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Car window smashed- bonnet popped- twice in 2 months

  • 16-03-2009 7:38am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,736 ✭✭✭


    Hi.
    This is a strange one- i'd appreciate your opinion.
    I own an Almera.
    The driver-side window has been smashed and the bonnet popped twice in the last 2 months.
    Exact same thing both times- nothing taken (e.g radio still there, licence and headset still in glovebox).
    Didn't leave anything on display (second time anyway,left a few coins (coppers) the first time:rolleyes:).
    Ten other cars in the carpark the first time it happened- all newer, nicer cars, all untouched.

    Second time round however, another almera, same colour, same year with similar reg. plate to mine was done as well on the same night- smashed driver-side window as well.
    That car belongs to another (Chinese) tenant in my building.

    WTF is going on?:confused:
    Are they looking at the VIN to clone a key.
    Are they targeting my car/other car (but not quite sure which is which).
    I'd appreciate any help with this.

    Also, any way i can stop this happening again.
    Are car alarms useless?
    Would a car alarm sticker be any good.
    Thanks.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,584 ✭✭✭PCPhoto


    I would suggest you insist that the management company of the car park install CCTV ..... its most likely that its a kid "learning"....and probably one that lives in the area....its possible that your car is being targetted.

    I had a similar experience a couple of years ago .... short version of the story - I moved out for my own safety and the safety of my car/contents.


  • Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 41,239 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    Get a big huge chain and padlock!
    It does sound like it could be people wanting to clone the key.
    Have you both let the gardai know?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,736 ✭✭✭tech77


    kbannon wrote: »
    Get a big huge chain and padlock!
    It does sound like it could be people wanting to clone the key.
    Have you both let the gardai know?

    Thanks.
    Yeah i spoke to the gardai both times.
    Did nothing the first time.
    Took prints the second time- probably pointless tbh.

    They never mentioned a word to me about key cloning.
    kbannon, are you sure that key cloning isn't bull$hit.
    So you're saying somebody could easily swipe my car now?
    Dealerships won't give keys outjust like that, would they?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,736 ✭✭✭tech77


    PCPhoto wrote: »
    I would suggest you insist that the management company of the car park install CCTV ..... its most likely that its a kid "learning"....and probably one that lives in the area....its possible that your car is being targetted.

    I had a similar experience a couple of years ago .... short version of the story - I moved out for my own safety and the safety of my car/contents.

    I've asked.
    (They offered fake CCTV).
    It's a good area tbh- no breakins in a few years apparently, apart from the three now.

    Any ideas about the 2 cars being same colour, year, make and model?


  • Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 41,239 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    tech77 wrote: »
    They never mentioned a word to me about key cloning.
    kbannon, are you sure that key cloning isn't bull$hit.
    There was a thread on here recently where a boardsies car was taken a few days after they popped a window and the bonnet IIRC. Apparently the gardai believed that the first 'attempt' was to get the VIN so that they could get a new key at the dealers.
    tech77 wrote: »
    So you're saying somebody could easily swipe my car now?
    Dealerships won't give keys outjust like that, would they?
    I don't know what the motives behind yours were but its strange alright.
    Dealers won't give out a key just like that but a dodgy member of staff might!


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  • Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 11,183 Mod ✭✭✭✭MarkR


    I wouldn't rule out the key cloning, seems a lot of effort for a normal car. Maybe they were trying to steal the bonnet itself? Or maybe they weren't cloning the key, but cloning the car?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,736 ✭✭✭tech77


    MarkR wrote: »
    I wouldn't rule out the key cloning, seems a lot of effort for a normal car. Maybe they were trying to steal the bonnet itself? Or maybe they weren't cloning the key, but cloning the car?

    Sorry.
    What do you mean, cloning the car?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 890 ✭✭✭lifer_sean


    On most cars these days the VIN is on a plate at the base of windscreen on passenger side. In this case there would be no need to pop the bonnet to get the VIN. Can't remember if that is true for an Almera.

    VIN tag is also on door pillars, RHS on Almera. Once the driver's door was open they had visibility of that tag. Why pop the bonnet ?

    If the second Almera was Identical to yours then it smells fishy.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,736 ✭✭✭tech77


    lifer_sean wrote: »
    If the second Almera was Identical to yours then it smells fishy.

    Thanks.
    It's very fishy- any ideas what might be going on?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 406 ✭✭rocknchef


    maybe its a mis-taken id maybe your neighbour had something in his car and they mixed them up?


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  • Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 11,183 Mod ✭✭✭✭MarkR


    tech77 wrote: »
    Sorry.
    What do you mean, cloning the car?

    They copy your vin, counterfit a vin plate and put it onto another car of same make / model / colour. Sell it on cheap / drive on false insurance. Loads of fun stuff really. You might wind up getting summonses for speeding / drive offs from petrol stations where you've never been.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,374 ✭✭✭Saab Ed


    I dont think its to get the VIN number either. Dealers wont give out keys just like that and anyway if its a dodgy staff member he can probably bring up all the information he needs in the dealer with the reg number anyway. I think its to get an expensive part myself. Throttle bodies give trouble on thoses older Almeras and they are very nearly more expensive than the car could be worth. The reason nothing was taken is maybe they were disturbed. Just a thought...


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