FabSwingers.com forum: Have you ever had your car taken

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

My business partner and I had our van taken from a hotel car park. The guy at reception confirmed that it was taken during the night and reported it to the police.

We have since heard about an area where cars have been spotted, so with this information I tried to call the local police station but they didn't have a telephone number ! And I still haven't seen the CCTV because the guy at the hotel reception said he wasn't allowed to show us. Also the insurance wants to pay us peanuts for the van and they won't pay out anything for the contents.

Has anyone else had this experience.

Were the police helpful?

Did you see CCTV?

Did the insurance pay out?

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By *enrietteandSamCouple
over a year ago

Staffordshire

It’s absolutely wank pal and I totally feel for ya.

I don’t have any good news unfortunately…

Police are fucking useless.

Insurers will do anything possible to get away with paying you peanuts.

Nobody will let you see the cctv as you might go rogue vigilante.

It’s a Criminals world out there these days.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Yes, twice, including a work van

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"It’s absolutely wank pal and I totally feel for ya.

I don’t have any good news unfortunately…

Police are fucking useless.

Insurers will do anything possible to get away with paying you peanuts.

Nobody will let you see the cctv as you might go rogue vigilante.

It’s a Criminals world out there these days."

Yeah it's terrible. I thought I would of had more help from police atleast.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Yes, twice, including a work van"

Oh,damn !

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I don’t drive, but someone broke into my flat last Saturday night, so I feel for you. Hope you get it sorted

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"I don’t drive, but someone broke into my flat last Saturday night, so I feel for you. Hope you get it sorted "

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By *arkandlovelyWoman
over a year ago

South Derbyshire

No but I really should've as I'm always leaving it with the keys still in the ignition while I go off and do the things.

This summer I left the windows down with the keys on the seat parked at a very busy Cornish beach. It's a good job surfers are so nice (and so hot, hmu if you're a surfer reading this).

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Your insurance can request the cctv.. But you can't view it due to GDPR

Do you have a tracker on it? Apple Air tags are good for that kind of thing (for future x)

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By *ohn KanakaMan
over a year ago

Not all that North of North London

The reason you want to see the CCTV is exactly the reason you aren't allowed.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Your insurance can request the cctv.. But you can't view it due to GDPR

Do you have a tracker on it? Apple Air tags are good for that kind of thing (for future x) "

No tracker. Never heard of apple Air tags before.

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By *orny PTMan
over a year ago

Peterborough

Tell the insurance company that the cctv owners are not playing ball. Then bitch about it it on Tripadvisor and booking dotcom as well as the Hotel's twitter page, as bad reviews might kick their butt.

The CCTV warning notice about protecting themselves and their customers is bollocks, as are the police.

Have you put in a Freedom of information request?

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

It's interesting the guy who said he had it done is from the same area where the van was taken. I guess its a hotspot for car crime.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I've had my virginty taken

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By *ornucopiaMan
over a year ago

Bexley

Ever since my partner's van was taken from an end of line parking space, I have always tried not to park anywhere where someone can get a tow truck nearby.

With almost all vehicles being immobilised nowadays, winching away is a likely technique and usually appears to onlookers like it is being done at the owner's request.

I'm especially suspicious of non sign written outfits within short range of dodgy car breaking areas..

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By *ools and the brainCouple
over a year ago

couple, us we him her.

Van insurance isn't worth the paper it's not written on.

They put in so much small print.

There is hopefully a special place in hell for people who steal tools from Vans.

Many of us tradesmen take years to build up our tools and it's not the biggest items that hurt the most it's those small special tools that in my case have been handed down from my family.

It's not practical to unload everything every night.

I hope they catch the bastard's and castrate them OP.

I Genuinely don't know what the police are for these days?

My mate is a copper and he says that most of their time is taken up by dru ggies and d*unks.

I can't remember the last time I saw a policeman walking the streets.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Tell the insurance company that the cctv owners are not playing ball. Then bitch about it it on Tripadvisor and booking dotcom as well as the Hotel's twitter page, as bad reviews might kick their butt.

The CCTV warning notice about protecting themselves and their customers is bollocks, as are the police.

Have you put in a Freedom of information request?"

Freedom of information request ? No I don't think we have done that. Only have a crime ref number.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Ever since my partner's van was taken from an end of line parking space, I have always tried not to park anywhere where someone can get a tow truck nearby.

With almost all vehicles being immobilised nowadays, winching away is a likely technique and usually appears to onlookers like it is being done at the owner's request.

I'm especially suspicious of non sign written outfits within short range of dodgy car breaking areas.."

I was parked being the hotel in front of the doors and underneath a camera. The man at reception said they came in and took it by placing some sort of device by the door and the lights lit and and it started. Didn't take them long at all.

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By *ools and the brainCouple
over a year ago

couple, us we him her.

The CCTV warning notice about protecting themselves and their customers is bollocks, as are the police.

Have you put in a Freedom of information request?

Freedom of information request ? No I don't think we have done that. Only have a crime ref number."

They'll probably tell you that they have deleted it as they only store them for so long.

Hotel security guard probably tipped off the thieves anyway.

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By *ornucopiaMan
over a year ago

Bexley

"The reason you want to see the CCTV is exactly the reason you aren't allowed. "

Exactly. Suppose someone arranged to have a car taken because it might be worth more that way. The owner might want to check how well they got away with the scam.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Van insurance isn't worth the paper it's not written on.

They put in so much small print.

There is hopefully a special place in hell for people who steal tools from Vans.

Many of us tradesmen take years to build up our tools and it's not the biggest items that hurt the most it's those small special tools that in my case have been handed down from my family.

It's not practical to unload everything every night.

I hope they catch the bastard's and castrate them OP.

I Genuinely don't know what the police are for these days?

My mate is a copper and he says that most of their time is taken up by dru ggies and d*unks.

I can't remember the last time I saw a policeman walking the streets."

There wasn't many tools in the van but it was full of materials which cost more than the van. We were insured for carrying them so I assumed with receipts I would get something back, but no. They said that is a different kind of insurance.

Now I come to think of it I can't remember the last time I saw a copper walking the streets either.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

The CCTV warning notice about protecting themselves and their customers is bollocks, as are the police.

Have you put in a Freedom of information request?

Freedom of information request ? No I don't think we have done that. Only have a crime ref number.

They'll probably tell you that they have deleted it as they only store them for so long.

Hotel security guard probably tipped off the thieves anyway.

I don't think so, but you never know. I asked the man at the desk if it had happened before and he said that it had happened before and he said a couple of nights before the night staff scared someone off who was trying to break into another van.

I need to up my security.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Had my work car completely broken into once.

Popped to toilet at service station (ensuring I locked it cause it was full of expensive!)

Came back, car looked fine but everything inside had gone. Police later told me a gang who could copy key signals had operated in the area.

Sorry to hear about your situation!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Came out of a pub years ago and a car similar to mine flew by me doing 70 odd miles an hour ,' wish mine would do that' l said ,turned out it was mine .

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By *ornucopiaMan
over a year ago

Bexley

[Removed by poster at 05/12/22 19:57:30]

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By *ornucopiaMan
over a year ago

Bexley

"Had my work car completely broken into once.

Popped to toilet at service station (ensuring I locked it cause it was full of expensive!)

Came back, car looked fine but everything inside had gone. Police later told me a gang who could copy key signals had operated in the area.

Sorry to hear about your situation! "

I've never yet had a car with remote locking and don't want one.

Quite apart from anything else, someone could jump into your unlocked passenger door while you are walking nonchalantly towards your vehicle and pressing the lazy man's button.

I always disable tailgates from the central locking for the same reason. (Yes, I have central locking but not remote.)

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By *orny PTMan
over a year ago

Peterborough

The CCTV warning notice about protecting themselves and their customers is bollocks, as are the police.

Have you put in a Freedom of information request?

Freedom of information request ? No I don't think we have done that. Only have a crime ref number."

Blackbelt barrister is worth looking at on his YT channel.

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By *arlomaleMan
over a year ago

darlington

My Nova GTE anyone who had a fast Vauxhall or Ford at the time will know that TWOCERS loved them I got paid out and got something sensible and about a year later plod phoned to say they have found my car they’d raided a scrapyard and it was in the corner in bits they’d busted a big car ringing gang I think the car went back to the insurance company and they probably scrapped it shame

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By *orny PTMan
over a year ago

Peterborough

"Had my work car completely broken into once.

Popped to toilet at service station (ensuring I locked it cause it was full of expensive!)

Came back, car looked fine but everything inside had gone. Police later told me a gang who could copy key signals had operated in the area.

Sorry to hear about your situation! "

I've never yet had a car with remote locking and don't want one.

Quite apart from anything else, someone could jump into your unlocked passenger door while you are walking nonchalantly towards your vehicle and pressing the lazy man's button.

I always disable tailgates from the central locking for the same reason. (Yes, I have central locking but not remote.)"

Which fuckwit in the car industry never saw this one coming? Having to buy RFID blocking key covers just shows you how weak those things are at being secure. Is it any wonder external locks get bolted/welded on to rear and side doors.

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By *ananaman41Man
over a year ago

Dublin

"Van insurance isn't worth the paper it's not written on.

They put in so much small print.

There is hopefully a special place in hell for people who steal tools from Vans.

Many of us tradesmen take years to build up our tools and it's not the biggest items that hurt the most it's those small special tools that in my case have been handed down from my family.

It's not practical to unload everything every night.

I hope they catch the bastard's and castrate them OP.

I Genuinely don't know what the police are for these days?

My mate is a copper and he says that most of their time is taken up by dru ggies and d*unks.

I can't remember the last time I saw a policeman walking the streets.

Now I come to think of it I can't remember the last time I saw a copper walking the streets either. "

Motor insurance, whether its van or car, never insurers the contents, with the exception perhaps of a limited amount of personal effects.

You can purchase separate policies to cover tools in the event of theft, but they have nothing to do with motor insurance

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By *ananaman41Man
over a year ago

Dublin

"Van insurance isn't worth the paper it's not written on.

They put in so much small print.

There is hopefully a special place in hell for people who steal tools from Vans.

Many of us tradesmen take years to build up our tools and it's not the biggest items that hurt the most it's those small special tools that in my case have been handed down from my family.

It's not practical to unload everything every night.

I hope they catch the bastard's and castrate them OP.

I Genuinely don't know what the police are for these days?

My mate is a copper and he says that most of their time is taken up by dru ggies and d*unks.

I can't remember the last time I saw a policeman walking the streets."

What do you mean its not worth the paper its written on? Its no different to car insurance. Motor insurance is not there to cover your tools, its there to cover your vehicle in the event of a certain set of perils occurring , such as theft, fire, accidental damage, as well as damage or injury to third parties for which you are responsible

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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

Sorry to hear about this.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sorry to hear that. My neighbour had his took Sunday morning

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By *phrodite_AdonisCouple
over a year ago

Yes, burgled whilst asleep and both cars taken. The police were useless and didn’t care. One car was recovered and the other was paid out by the insurance. Absolute nightmare and wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

Sasha

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By *ucka39Man
over a year ago

Newcastle

It's a policy that the victim won't be allowed to view CCTV but the police because they are investigating a crime would be allowed it's part of data protection as they can view the entire day or night to build up a case

Because you don't know the time it happened but it is up to the hotel if they are willing to assist and they would download a copy for the police if you've had poor assistant from the police take the matter further and log a complaint or even contact the crime commission office

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Thanks everyone. The Midlands seems to be the worst for it happening.

I've even heard of vans being taken and then they call the phone number on the van and ask for money to give it back. This actually happens.

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By *ttmcdguyTV/TS
over a year ago

Milton Keynes

Bit late in the events for you unfortunately and honestly feel for you as having several of my vans done

But all my vehicles now have trackers that are linked to my phone

There pretty cheap tbh about £30 each and £50 a year subscription

I know where every single 1 of mine are how fast the going if they are breaking the speed limits what route they taken

On top of that they are all under cctv when parked and all got front rear dash cams that are also linked to my phone

It’s a sad state of affairs when people have to go to such lengths to protect what we work hard for

But at least I’ll know where it is and also who had it away

Where I would peacefully go and pick it up from them with absolutely no confrontation implied or used wink wink

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