Hi Folks,

You may remeber my vRS was nicked a couple of months back (and recovered) - see http://www.briskoda.net/forums/t31947-stolen-skoda-octavia-vrs-ireland.html. Well I was away on holidays last week and they tried again - same routine, took a rear window apart. I was very lucky, the Gardai (cops in this part of the world) where within earshot of the bell (at least the house alarm up grade worked!) and arrived at the house in under a minute - which scared the F***kers off.

Anyway, I this stage I'm at a bit of a loss of what todo, I really can't put up with my house being broken into repeatedly - I have a wife and baby daugther.... As I see it I have a few options:

1. Modify the rear windows of the house to make them harder to remove - but will this drive them to attack another window?

2. Modify the car to make it less attactive to the scumbags - how?

3. :( Sell the vRS - it's only four months old, I'd lose a fortune, and I really like it and have no wish to sell it apart from the scumbags breaking in...

Point 2, really interests me - what are they planning to do with the car? I guess it's either to sell it (as a whole or as parts) or to use it as a get away car for a robbery - Interestingly, a vRS was used as a get away car for a robbery a few days after the attempt to get my one. Which lead to a quote from a co-worker, "They wouldn't have bothered with yours if it was yellow, Paddy!", anyone any thoughts? - Perhaps, a re-spray would be the right option?

Paddy

PS The car also has an alarm and GPS tracking device - installed after it was recovered the first time.

Sorry to hear this happening again.

Taking your points in order,

1) Changing the rear windows of your house could be a good idea, make those difficult to get through. They want somewhere quiet to do their work, and not attract attention so will most likely not attack the front ones.

2) Could work if the theif wants the car to sell on later or use for some other job, but if its an opportunist they will most proberbly take it anyway.

3) Dont let the ****** win.

Get a big german shepherd to watch over the back of your home - like i have

Put a note in the window saying that you have GPS tracking fitted. They should leave it alone then.

I haven't read you previous post. but I assume they took the rear window out of your house to get the keys.

I would seriously consider some substantial security measures to avoid point 1 happening.

Points 2 & 3 are just giving in to the scumbags.

maybe think about those electric shutters that you can get for residential properties these days - no idea on costs(likely to be huge), but would probably work. They would be good if your ever away on holiday anyway? like you was this time!

HTH

this type of thing....

http://www.abacusshutters.co.uk/residential-security-roller-shutters.php

A sad day.vRS's becoming as nickable as subarus/luxury cars

Disgusting when they try breaking into houses for keys.I really thought my vRS was a car that would attract only opportunist thieves,not the house breakers.

If it is so bad round there,maybe it might be time to debadge,paint the calipers etc?

Hate thieving swines

Get a big german shepherd to watch over the back of your home - like i have

I'd love to - but my garden isn't that big and I couldn't leave a big dog in it all day every day. Even if I took it out for two long walks every day, I'd still feel that I was being unfair to the dog........

Which of course leads to option 4 - move house!

In reply to some other answers

- security shutters, I'll get pricing done here and see how it works out.

- de-badge etc - not sure it'll work, they know what the car is now and I suspect any suitable knowable thief would still figure out that it isn't 1.4!

Paddy

Sorry to hear that Paddy. Maybe the tracker sticker or getting a real GPS tracking system will work :confused:

Sorry to hear that Paddy. Maybe the tracker sticker or getting a real GPS tracking system will work :confused:

Thanks Dave - not sure what you mean, the tracking system is the real thing (I can post the GPS co-ords of it's current park space if there is any doubt. )

Paddy

Sorry Paddy, didn't read the very end of your post. Didn't realize you had a tracker fitted . Anyway, don't let the b*stards get you down.

Somebody tried to take mine a few weeks ago, made a mess of the driver's door barrel. It happened in Verona in Italy though so I'm not too worried about them coming back.

I'm not familiar with your previous post but more details would be useful. What type of window's are they single or double glazed, uPVC or timber framed?

From what you have said I'm guessing they're doubleglazed uPVC with external beading and that's where the problem is. These type of windows are an easy target as all they have to do is pop the beading off and out comes the glazing unit without having to make any nasty breaking glass sounds.

Is it possible to restrict access to the rear? e.g. gates, fences, etc..

Is it parked on a driveway? If so, maybe get some posts put up on the drive? That could make it harder to take without spending a large amount of time?

CCTV camera looking over the car? The sight of a camera could be enough to let them know its a no-go area.

I'm not familiar with your previous post but more details would be useful. What type of window's are they single or double glazed' date=' uPVC or timber framed?

From what you have said I'm guessing they're doubleglazed uPVC with external beading and that's where the problem is. These type of windows are an easy target as all they have to do is pop the beading off and out comes the glazing unit without having to make any nasty breaking glass sounds.

Is it possible to restrict access to the rear? e.g. gates, fences, etc..[/quote']

OK - here goes, it's doubleglazed timberframe with the beading on the outside - the units are held in with silicon. Yeah, these are a soft target, but no-one seems to be able to offer a way to modify the unit to improve things.

Replacing it would be expense - it's the entire width of the back of my house (2 windows either side, a door and another full lenght window) - was thinking of getting a quote to replace it...... but scared of what I might hear :eek:

Paddy

Is it parked on a driveway? If so' date=' maybe get some posts put up on the drive? That could make it harder to take without spending a large amount of time?

CCTV camera looking over the car? The sight of a camera could be enough to let them know its a no-go area.[/quote']

The drive way is a bit short - the vRS is the entire length of it, so getting a post in may not be a goer.......

CCTV - mmmmm, not sure I want to go this far - I think, I'd probably do something else.

one little trick to stop them(with that type of window) is to silicone seal the beading in, its suprising how strong that stuff is

Removable steering wheel (no idea if these are any good) but just a suggestion

OK - here goes' date=' it's doubleglazed timberframe with the beading on the outside - the units are held in with silicon. Yeah, these are a soft target, but no-one seems to be able to offer a way to modify the unit to improve things.

Replacing it would be expense - it's the entire width of the back of my house (2 windows either side, a door and another full lenght window) - was thinking of getting a quote to replace it...... but scared of what I might hear :eek:

Paddy[/quote']

Not sure if you have the same services available as we do in the UK but have the Gardai got a Crime Prevention Officer or similar who could come round and give you advice? In the UK these will come to your home after an incident like yours and give recommendations of what can be done to improve security along with contacts of local companies that can do the work.

Your home insurance provider may also be able to offer a similar service as it's in their interest too.

Put a note in the window saying that you have GPS tracking fitted. They should leave it alone then.

When I had trackers fitted on my last two cars, the company said they deliberately DON'T give you stickers to put in the window, as although it may work to deter opportunist thieves, all it will mean is that a professional thief will rip the insides of your car out before taking it. So the choice was put to me - have a good chance of getting the car back and the police catching the thieves in the first instance, or having the insides of your car wrecked and never seeing it again in the second.

My mind was made up straightaway!

I'd go for the CCTV in the back yard option myself...

tbh i dont think cctv will deter them that much, they will just wear the renowned "hoody" style top to cover any possibilty of showing their faces. least thats what i saw one morning (another car) when they set of the proximty alarm.

How about a BIG YELLOW WHEEL CLAMP , will save a respay . One other option is these new type remote proximity alarms you can fit outside with a PIR that is linked wireless to a powered alarm on the outside of house , positioned to go off when they cross the drive . Link it to a floodlight for all to see .

If it was me, I'd be looking at getting rid of the car - it's a difficult call, but my family are more important to me and I'd want to avoid people breaking into the house looking for car keys and potentially harming my family (and me!). One of the reasons behind selling the Scooby too....

Chris

I like the idea of the BIG YELLOW WHEEL CLAMP.

The PIR lights are a good idea, but I know from personal experience they have a huge downside, ie every cat / dog / fox that walks past it sets it off. Our neighbour to the back of us has 1 & at night it can be a nuisance, we have to have heavy duty curtains in the back bedrooms. :(

The CCTV onto the car is a good idea ( dont advertise it tho )

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Trouble is with a wheel clamp is that it's defeated if they get hold of the keys, which is what they're already trying to break in and get...

As CCTV can't get round the fact they're probably going to wear a baseball cap and/or hoodie, and the tracker is only of use AFTER they've nicked it, I can think of only three things (at least one of which has already been mentioned, I know):

A big dog

Improved physical security round the back of your house (big prickly bushes work well I gather, and are less likely to get you in trouble with the council than barbed / razor wire

Sell the car

Replace the windows out back

See if your existing windows can be anchored more securely (the ones in my dad and stepmum's house are held in with screws about 8" long that go directly into the lintel and sill)

None of these are exactly ideal I know...