37 replies to this topic

[danm]

Guys and Girls,

I am new here, and have no idea if this has already been discussed at length or not. If so, please forgive me.

But I have noticed most recently an alarming thing many of us are unaware we are doing - breaching our own personal security.

What the fubars am I on about?

Take a look at the latest mini thefts forum. Read scottish mini boards. Midlands owner clubs. You name it, minis are being taken from under our noses everywhere.

Then take a look at any project thread. Any wanted thread. For sale board. Everywhere.

If I spent a full day scanning this forum of posts made in the last month alone, I could quite easily map out a pretty good outline of a decent number of minis in and around certain counties right now; when they are being used; if they sit on drives; the parts they have in them... Thats not even counting the private messages and more detailed info we carelessly divulge to potential buyers of our parts!

'Call me after work, anytime from 7pm'
'Sorry, I am away tonight for a birthday, can't take photos of the nudge bars'
etc

Talk about doing someone elses homework!

With google maps, it isn't hard to read a post or scratch further with a private message about so-and-so from near 'Privet Drive area' showing a photo of his prized white cooper on the sideroad. A few minutes doing the maths, checking maps, aerial shots, a few streetview walks and BINGO. A view that matches the photo. Half the surveillance done for a possible steal job. Quick read of the thread. Ah yes, new carb fitted last week. Definitely worth nicking.

Then like I didn't realise last week. Casually chatting to another mini owner, where do you work, what you doing at the weekend etc. Chit chat. But on a second thought, who is to say the person on the other end isn't who they say they are? They now know what I have, that its street parked and I am not at home from xxx to xxx.

Luckily, I am not a serial thief. You may think I have the mindset after you read this, but I want you all to realise TOO MUCH is being made open for TOO MANY.

We don't live in a perfect world, and people are out there for themselves. Not to sound too depressive, but just all please be careful with what you show. Crop your car photos. Show less of your direct home surroundings. Dont post streets. Shops. Any identifiable landmark that could possibly pinpoint where you are without saying so directly.

I don't mean to scare anyone off. I don't mean to be a major pessimist either. I am simply being realistic about how a lot of us are a little too free with out information, which in turn could be hurting us. Okay, maybe not be so ruthless and secretive. But I bet if you read your posts, thought about them with some of what you have read here in mind, the info you unwillingly give away will probably shock you. It did me! Here, and elsewhere.

I think these mini thefts are more than just the typical pikey or imported euro robberovski. They are much more intelligent and researched.

My 5 mins are up! Think about it :)

Edited by danm, 15 November 2012 - 01:59 AM.

[lhaskins250]

true

[cliche]

I am wary about the same thing - shame that it's come to this

[Artful Dodger]

Maybe we should make this forum not opn to criminals?


Bahahaha

[Bungle]

but yet we are happy to buy second hand shells with no ID and parts as long as they are cheap


if us mini owners didn't buy from these thieves the thieves wouldn't steel our minis

they don't nick mini bits to sell to ford owners, we are as much the problem as them

[Artful Dodger]

Problem is, you just can't tell if a part is nicked unless there is a form of owner identification. I have often thought walking around auto jumbles how much of the stuff is nicked!

The problem is there is no solution!

[jamesmpi]

But how do you identify stolen parts from a single photo and a written description on either a forum or online auction website?? Yes people shouldn't be nieve and assume that just because its cheap its got to be bought, but at the same time a part could be cheap because the seller genuinely wants rid without the hassle a prolonged wait for a buyer......(sorry for asking a rhetorical question)

This isn't a new issue and I completely agree the original post.

[conlad]

But how do you identify stolen parts from a single photo and a written description on either a forum or online auction website?? Yes people shouldn't be nieve and assume that just because its cheap its got to be bought, but at the same time a part could be cheap because the seller genuinely wants rid without the hassle a prolonged wait for a buyer......(sorry for asking a rhetorical question)

This isn't a new issue and I completely agree the original post.

Completely agree with this and the original post.

Trackers are something we all need to fit too - if several minis end up in one place then we've hit the jackpot

[megamini_jb]

When I take pictures I always watch the surroundings and if I need to I crop it. And when selling stuff I only usually just put the county. I've seen before, not necessarily on this forum, but other places when looking at minis, some of them have pretty much said where the stuff is! plus like you said it doesn't take much for someone to do a bit of homework then before you know it the buggers have pin pointed your location.

Unfortunately, like already said, we don't really know if we're buying stolen parts from a for sale ad, hopefully we don't have any pricks that are like that on this forum, and even once purchased how would you know with parts....

Just while we're kind of on the subject, does anybody know, if possible, how you can post pictures using Imageshack or Photobucket, but not publicly and only viewable to members?

[megamini_jb]

We all definitely need to invest in trackers!

[danm]

I wasn't so much thinking of specific part identification, we could realistically barely trace or find things like that if stolen.

The only idea I can think of for that to work besides entire car trackers is for every member here to have some sort of personal four letter code number/letter combination or a symbol and a universal mini owners list identifying owner to code and a point of contact/generic email they could use.

ie

xyz3 = Frank Smith, Liverpool 01234 567890 / [email protected]
222y = Jonny Twofingers, Carlisle 01234 987654 / [email protected]
11pd = Billybob Jones, Luton 01234192837 / [email protected]

That would involve discretely centre punch stamping that owner code or symbol onto various significantly prized parts or secret areas of the car. If they are sold on, you could strikethrough the text so its still legible and add a new owner code.

When someone gets a part or entire car stolen, and said item emerges for sale, the surefire symbol or code the owner has could be identified to confirm and the potential suspect highlighted. Only the owner would know the location of his secret code, so even if the shell was resprayed and made entirely different, if the owner could locate his secret code, he could find his car or part.

You could even contact the person on the list if you see a part for sale, just to verify it is actually for sale by them. Or even check to see other mini item codes to see if they match.

This would work for the private owner and his car buying/selling 'one off' expensive engine or body parts from gumtree/ebay/local ads. Not masses like huge mini spares sellers or lower cost parts etc.

Its an all too elaborate idea from la la land, and itll never fruit. Shame! Its lot of effort, some parts cant be punched and would ruin them. But one to looking into no doubt, as if everyone played a part, it could work nicely.


Onto the original topic, not about parts, it was about general thefts being made easy...

On the latest photos of some of the peoples projects, I can see not just the mini, but a lot of their garage contents; dates photos were taken; type of security; even some through beyond the garages and what sort of security, if any, leads into the house itself.

Then you get people posting about attending certain mini shows on certain days. Nights at the Aces Cafe etc.

I can not just work out roughly and more accurately where you are and when; but also make predicted patterns that you work on the mini weeknights; go out for beers saturday; and spend saturday mornings playing football and sunday afternoons at home. Bingo, theres my time slot to pinch your mini.

That, on top of the general robbing skills the average thief has.

I don't mean to rain down on anyones parade here at the forum, I don't want to suddenly make people crap their pants and stop posting. Just think and be a little more restrictive in divulging so much info, because what I can see is scary.

I'm no genius, but if I sat and pieced together things I can get a lot from very little.

The fact I haven't met anyone here yet, and have been posting about my mini could be an absolute fabrication. I could have been another thief, and have so much free info to get me going.

Perhaps there could be a never level of 'security' introduced, or tested based on people who have met?

You know the whole 6 degrees of separation thing? Kinda...ish! LOL Maybe if we start with one or two people who have met on here with minis and are legitimate owners. They could have a little red star next to their username. And perhaps they can then verify other members they have met with minis, and then they are verified user owners. Once verified, you can verify other users as being 'real owners' when you meet them and so forth and you can see those of us who are face to face members.

It would work on the community identifying eachother, and showcase those who are perhaps not who they say they are...

Another easy to implement idea, one to think about...

[Artful Dodger]

Moderators, read this! Lets get this into action! Both sound like very good ideas, and would most defiantly help hinder te stolen mini and parts racket!

[sam-wkd]

This is also happening on the Jap performance scene too (my other love) - and people being followed home from shows and cars being taken. I've stopped giving too much information out on sites and now don't complete build threads any more.

Such a shame its come to this.

p.s. love the second idea!

[JonnyBMX]

just a warning as someone tried to do this to a friend of mine, he was driving along a country road not far from our town and he came up to 3 cars in a convoy all travelling as very low speeds, they then proceeded to stop causing him to have to overtake the 3 cars, as he did this the first car sped up the second car also followed suit and the car at the back went behind my friend, then they performed some sort on manuvering and procedded to block my friend in... they then slowed right down (obviously they were trying to take his car luckily my friend managed to get away not sure how but yeah.... could be something to watch out for

[Steely]

I get the feeling that thieves will know the places that trackers are going to be hidden and will be able to disable them quickly. They have got to of thought of that.