RE:Some little B8stard tried to steal my GTI

[Stiggy]

Very sorry to hear of the news on this thread, can't imagine how frustrated you guys must feel .  Just goes to show there are some people who find "enjoyment/pleasure" in causing others harm and distress.  Really hope everything is sorted for you.

I have been considering purchasing a tracker device for my new car in March, but know nothing about them.  I have had a (brief) look at the tracker website and was considering getting the tracker retrieve until i read your post Teutonic_Tamer.  Are these devices any good? which one is best?  Also, do they track your day to day commuting or are they only active once the car is stolen?

[AlexRWD]

I'm not claiming to be an expert on the subject or anything, but I think if you took your boss to a tribunal for suspending you, he'd be f*cked six ways until Sunday.

Definitely agree with that - your Employer must be nuts, take them to the Employment Tribunal, they won't have a leg to stand on!  You can probably find a lawyer to deal with this on a conditional fee basis.


As for Trackers - I personally don't see why I should spend hundreds more pounds fitting trackers and paying their ongoing fees unless I had an particularly unique, rare, expensive and collectable car.

If someone nicks my car, that is what I have been paying thousands of pounds to insurers for over numerous years, and I would happily go out and buy a replacement car, maybe even use it as an opportunity to upgrade or try something different 

For this reason, I would never put my keys in a safe - if violent crims break in determined to steal a car, I'd speedily hand the keys over and send them on their way, rather than risk me or my wife being threatened / beaten until you tell them where the keys are.

- I would probably be really disappointed if a stolen car was found and returned 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I have been considering purchasing a tracker device for my new car in March, but know nothing about them.  I have had a (brief) look at the tracker website and was considering getting the tracker retrieve until i read your post Teutonic_Tamer.  Are these devices any good? which one is best?  Also, do they track your day to day commuting or are they only active once the car is stolen?

If you are considering a tracking device, then the only product which is used by all 52 UK Police forces, all major UK shipping ports, and also covers certain European countries - then ONLY Tracker are suitable.

The RAC used to do a system, called TrakBak (I think), but this has no Police support, is operated by Group4, and they can't even keep hold of prisoners in transit! 

IMHO, they are very, very good, but, they are not cheap.  There are 4 different systems offered by Tracker, with quite differing prices.  Only you can decide which one you want, based on a number of factors.

1. Is your car highly desireable,
2. Do you live rural or in a city,
3. Do you have a garage or secure parking,
4. Do you have secure parking at work,
5. Are you in an area (or frequently travel to) which is a hotspot for car theft,
6. Have you ever had a car stollen before,
7. Do you have a specific requirement from your insurer,
8. Are you a 6ft6" tall, 3ft wide monster of a bloke, or a 5ft dainty woman?

When you have weighed up the above Qs, then hopefully you should have narrowed down your options.

Regarding day-2-day general route tracking - the commercial fleet trackers have this facility, but the car (and motorbike) only "stolen vehicle recovery" trackers do NOT have this function.  The car trackers are only "activated" and actively send out tracking data, via a secure centre, to the Police, only after confirmation of unauthorised vehicle movement is detected. 

Any more Qs, ask away!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

As for Trackers - I personally don't see why I should spend hundreds more pounds fitting trackers and paying their ongoing fees unless I had an particularly unique, rare, expensive and collectable car.

There are other circumstances to consider, see my reply to Stiggy.  Regarding ongoing fees, you can elect to pay for a "lifetime duration" subscription, handy if you keep your motor longer than 3 years.

If someone nicks my car, that is what I have been paying thousands of pounds to insurers for over numerous years, and I would happily go out and buy a replacement car, maybe even use it as an opportunity to upgrade or try something different 

Yes, absolutely.  But there is more to Trackers than is offset by insurance.  If your P&J gets stolen, and not recovered, then the insurer will pay out, LESS any excess you may have.  You may never get the true value from the insurer, and they may drag out any payment, leaving you with no wheels in the process.  Your future premium will be loaded, and it would be likely you get a "return visit" from the scrotes who had away your previous.

However, if you had a Tracker, and your P&J did get stolen, and then recovered, you would lose no excess (unless the Scrotes pranged it).  The scrotes themselves would be tasting porridge for a few years, and won't be back a second visit.  If you then decided to get rid of the stolen/recoverd, you could do so in your own time, at your own pace, and getting a decent crust for your motor, and still not affecting your insurance.

For this reason, I would never put my keys in a safe - if violent crims break in determined to steal a car, I'd speedily hand the keys over and send them on their way, rather than risk me or my wife being threatened / beaten until you tell them where the keys are.

Yes, but with the very latest Trackers, they have the technolgy to track them, even if the original car keys are used, so gun touting scrotes who target you, merrily get given your keys, unaware they are being tracked, get pulled by the BiB, charged for vehicle theft AND firearms!

- I would probably be really disappointed if a stolen car was found and returned 

Ahh . . . that's another story though - it obviously wasn't your P&J in the first place then!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

duplicate post deleted 

[AndyC]

Received phone call from police to let me now that the Ford was at Edgetons Garage in Crewe, Cheshire police had discovered car at Nantwich, only God nows how it managed to get there, they must of had a really long walk home with all my tools and kit, these t0ssers have put me through hell this past week.  Told the boss about the car, as of yet not contacted me back, I have contacted the union about arranging a tribunal. Will keep you posted on my progress. 

[S11EPS]

Best of luck man. Hope they nail your cheap-ass boss to the wall.

[DazVR6]

This country is just getting worse, seems to be going the the way of America or dare i say it South Africa.... ...the law needs to be changed and allow us to all carry guns, atleast then we would stand a fairer chance... .

[Say bye bye]

car was most likley being"stolen to order" so it can be stripped and parts used on damaged cars or sold as profit... cars no good with broken windows it stands out so they have to nick the keys...
tracker is about as good as a choclate tea cup... these days, for a hefty sum, you can buy a tracker blocker that blocks any kind of signal behind send around it inc mobile phones signals..theives want a car BADLY consider it gone imo...apart from problems at work i think you got off lucky mate!!!

[Stiggy]

Received phone call from police to let me now that the Ford was at Edgetons Garage in Crewe, Cheshire police had discovered car at Nantwich, only God nows how it managed to get there, they must of had a really long walk home with all my tools and kit, these t0ssers have put me through hell this past week.  Told the boss about the car, as of yet not contacted me back, I have contacted the union about arranging a tribunal. Will keep you posted on my progress. 

Glad to hear some progress regarding the stolen car there, and hope justice is done with these idiots and your boss!

Thanks for the advice concerning the tracker devices.  Been really helpful.  I may wait for a while, as my car (ed30) will be garaged in a rural area, where there haven't been many reports of burglaries etc.  However, i will start locuming soon, so will not know the kind of place i'll be working in everyday; i may get a device for peace of mind.