Theft of Columbus

[Bartatman]

I recently had my Superb II (2013) broken into. They smashed the front near side window and stole the Columbus unit from the dash board. My reason for posting this is to make you aware just how easy this is and to offer some simple advice that may help you prevent it happening to you.

After the removal of the black plastic trim that surrounds the unit, and is only clipped in place, you find the unit is held with four standard screws! The removal of these takes seconds and then they make off with £2.5k worth of kit. This is what happened to me.

The unit and glass were replaced by my insurance company but I purchased some security screws (from Screwfix) to replace the originals. Good job I did as at 23:20 on Christmas Day evening they came back to steal the replacement unit.

Again they broke the window, the alarm went off, they leaned in, removed the trim, BUT couldn't get the unit out. They made off empty handed.

It's clear that Skoda should do better than this. It's a return to the early 80s in terms of poor vehicle security.

Be aware that your Skoda dealer may also seek to rip your insurance company off by claiming that all the wiring between the unit and the satnav aerial needs to be replaced too! Mine said that the connection pins had been damaged during the theft. They looked fine to me but removing the headlining and doing a re-wire pushed the bill up by hundreds. I doubt they ever did this work.

If you have the Columbus unit (and there's a reason why they are after this unit rather than others which I won't share here), please perform this simple security enhancement. Ten security screws cost something like £1.60 and are well worth the effort.

Happy New Year to you all.

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[@Lee]

bloody hell! Bummer. And for the sake of a few screws which, if bought in bulk, would add a couple of pence :(

[trundlenut]

bloody hell! Bummer. And for the sake of a few screws which, if bought in bulk, would add a couple of pence :(

And then the scrotes use a crowbar and wreck the dash as well...

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[@Lee]

And then the scrotes use a crowbar and wreck the dash as well...

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yeah but that'd FUBAR the HU in the process hopefully making it unviable.

[DanHarper]

If they were held in by Torx, security torx or whatever as standard the toe rags would just bring an appropriate driver! 

[trundlenut]

yeah but that'd FUBAR the HU in the process hopefully making it unviable.

These are not the kind of people who that far ahead...

Or they are and they have been to maplin/machine mart/eBay and bought a set of suitable screwdrivers.

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[@Lee]

These are not the kind of people who that far ahead...

Or they are and they have been to maplin/machine mart/eBay and bought a set of suitable screwdrivers.

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Araldite the ****er in then

[Bartatman]

And then the scrotes use a crowbar and wreck the dash as well...

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Yes you're right. Perhaps I should just take the unit out myself and leave it on the bonnet next time? After all, what's the point of even locking the door?

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Edited 27 December, 2015 by Bartatman

[Noddy90]

If you have the Columbus unit (and there's a reason why they are after this unit rather than others which I won't share here), 

 

Really curious about your last line... What's the secret?  Can you share?

[trundlenut]

Yes you're right. Perhaps I should just take the unit out myself and leave it on the bonnet next time? After all, what's the point of even locking the door?

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A while back a mate had an xr2, it was nicked but recovered. He had an immobiliser fitted and next time someone tried to nick it they couldn't start it, so they smashed all the windows, slashed the tyres and kicked in pretty much all the body panels.

You may well stop opportunist thieves but if someone wants something seriously enough then there is little you can do. Skoda/vw are obviously relying on some other method to prevent reuse of stolen units, but you seem to infer there is a problem with this.

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[Bartatman]

I created this post to highlight the ease with which the Columbus unit can be stolen from a Superb II. Do something about it or do nothing. The choice is yours. The thieves are after the components of the Columbus rather than the unit it self (and that's all I say as I do not wish to motivate others).

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[trundlenut]

I created this post to highlight the ease with which the Columbus unit can be stolen from a Superb II. Do something about it or do nothing. The choice is yours. The thieves are after the components of the Columbus rather than the unit it self (and that's all I say as I do not wish to motivate others).

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I'm sure those in "the business" are perfectly aware of what they can do to make money.

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[Dr Zoidberg]

I doubt skoda are too concerned if they are charging insurance companies £2.5k for a replacement. That's a nice little earner.

[fatzy]

This is so irritating and costly. Not only is the unit gone, the damage to the car is not cheap either. In my corner of the world we were bothered with theft of large numbers of Columbuses, both from Superb's and Octavia's and VW's as well. This has happend in certain periods and areas, and the problem moved around. Large numbers every time. Totally we are talking about hundreds! Recently there were a breakthrough, some foreigners were arrested and the problem was almost disappeared. Only about 25 units was found. This has happend earlier as well. So, I think a warning is in order, there are lots of stolen units flowing the market.

[Dr Zoidberg]

Plenty of people on here have been happy to buy a cheap Columbus on eBay with no thought as to where they come from.

They wouldn't get stolen if there was no market for them.

[26DIPP]

As sad as this theft is I would have taken this as an opportunity to buy a compatible cheaper branded unit with a proper satelite navigation system.

VAG could also go the way of other manufacturers and "mate" certain units to a cars CPU AND register in a central server.

[alextan]

I created this post to highlight the ease with which the Columbus unit can be stolen from a Superb II. Do something about it or do nothing. The choice is yours. The thieves are after the components of the Columbus rather than the unit it self (and that's all I say as I do not wish to motivate others).

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thanks for the awareness, any chance you have a link with the type of screws you got ?

[Dr Zoidberg]

As sad as this theft is I would have taken this as an opportunity to buy a compatible cheaper branded unit with a proper satelite navigation system.

VAG could also go the way of other manufacturers and "mate" certain units to a cars CPU AND register in a central server.

To be fair to them, there is something like this in place with the MQB based cars.

[Paulbrown]

The only issue I would have is say if I wanted to get the unit out my self and couldn't due to the screws what happens then?!?

[trundlenut]

The only issue I would have is say if I wanted to get the unit out my self and couldn't due to the screws what happens then?!?

You can buy the appropriate screwdrivers easily enough on the high street or off the Internet.

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[Bartatman]

thanks for the awareness, any chance you have a link with the type of screws you got ?

Here's the link to the screws I used. You put them in and out with a tool that costs £4.99 and yes, thieves can buy it too, but with so many switchable heads to try before they find the right one, time is their enemy.

Security is all about creating a delay that creates the time to enable a response. That could be you running outside with a big stick or releasing the dog! I recommend neither but it could of course generate witnesses or improved cctv images.

http://m.screwfix.com/p/easydrive-star-drive-countersunk-self-tappers-security-screws-8ga-x-1-pk10/6232h

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[james0james]

Sorry to see you had a visit from the columbus removal team.

 

When i was deciding on buying my superb the easy Columbus theft and associated damage was my only negative thought.

 

Another member here  chan110  also had his Columbus lifted also in w yorks,this very nearly put me off buying a Columbus (definitely put me off moving to w yorks  !).

 

2 solutions came to mind.

 

solution 1 was to remove the 4 securing screws,use pop rivits instead,make a dome using araldite over the rivits and paint the dome with yellow fluorescent paint,leave the plastic cover off when parked.

 

solution 2 was to remove the Columbus when parked,put in boot or take indoors.Leave  glove box open (empty).  I use this system.

 

I am also subscribed to  smar****er  ,home, electronics and car  (inc Columbus,wheels cat converter etc are marked and recorded.

 

smart water.com

Edited 28 December, 2015 by james0james

[Gizmo]

I really do feel for you but ATEOTD they have already done the damage (again) to the car only then to find they have the wrong tool to remove the Columbus (no doubt they will now carry a selection of different bits)

 

To me security is all about making your property harder to get into than the next one, be that a visible alarm (house) or CCTV etc.

 

Personally I would of had (clear) security film applied to all the windows and a small sticker on each window pointing this out. (then put one of those emergency hammers in the glovebox... just in case YOU need to break a window to get out!)

[Turkeythighs]

one of the biggest pain in the a$$ is clearing up all that glass as it seems to get everywhere and then some

[Gazdok]

I really do feel for you but ATEOTD they have already done the damage (again) to the car only then to find they have the wrong tool to remove the Columbus (no doubt they will now carry a selection of different bits)

...

Personally I would of had (clear) security film applied to all the windows and a small sticker on each window pointing this out. (then put one of those emergency hammers in the glovebox... ...

 

Are you saying that you have fitted all your cars with Security tape to stop a car break in?