15 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

This weeks 'Classic Car Weekly' has a front page feature 'Classic Theft Crisis Deepens' revealing the classic car models most at risk of being stolen. As expected the classic Mini is among the top five at risk (can't remember all the others but it includes Land Rovers) with over 70 Mini's stolen since September 2012 and very few recovered. Most have been later 1980's-1990's Mini's probably because they are more likely to be in use as daily drivers or parked on the street or driveways, but several earlier 1960's and 70's Mini's have also vanished recently and are sadly thought to have been stripped for parts sold on for a quick profit. Police advice is to fit a good quality approved steering lock like Disklok, block in any classic car on your driveway /garage with a modern secured car, hide a trackable mobile phone in the car or even remove the wheels if it is only used occasionally for classic shows, etc. (Bear in mind if parked outside a garage the grabber lorry type 'scrapman' can still overcome even these deterrents if no one is about and he can reach over!).

http://www.classiccarweekly.co.uk/

 

[carboy001]

Not shocking but still very sad reading that people stoop this low.

[lrostoke]

one of ours was stolen ..1970 ..998 auto luckly got it back with minimal damage. You still end up out of pocket though if you have excess on the insurance.

[johnyc]

I think you've hit the nail on the head with saying that there are a lot parked on the street in daily use! I feel for anyone that's had one stolen. Keep em locked in a garage and then park another car in-front of your garage. If someone wanted to nick my mini from home they would need to shift 3 other vehicles first and break into my garage then remove the disk lock. Good luck doing that without waking the dogs..hehe.

 

When it's in use. I won't leave it without it being in a secured car park or in plain line of sight. Im a little OCD about him..

Edited by johnyc, 30 May 2013 - 08:11 AM.

[cooperdan]

I would be insulted if they wernt highly desirable pfftt..

[Black.Ghost]

Yeah but they are highly desirable for the wrong reasons. Its not because Minis are in such high demand that they are simply stolen, re-registered and sold on or shipped overseas. Whilst it would provide no comfort to a victim of such theft, it might give them a little hope that one day they might actually get it back one day.

 

Knowing that these cars are simply broken and sold for parts means there is little chance of getting anything back must be quite disheartening really.

 

Its a sad state of affairs. But its so easy these days. Research is not hard on vehicle locations given people's lax security online. In addition to that, all you need to do is go into a decent newsagents and see the array of car magazines available. All bought by people restoring/interested in and therefore the parts markets are huge. Sadly, some people really are less than interested where the parts come from as long as they are a good price. 

[olds_kool_lews]

This is why i sold up and got out of mini ownership, not worth the heartbreak if my mini was ever stolen, hence me turning my attentions to mk1 metros :)

[mab01uk]

Full article here:

http://www.classicca...fo=&att1=&att2=

[Tamworthbay]

This is why i sold up and got out of mini ownership, not worth the heartbreak if my mini was ever stolen, hence me turning my attentions to mk1 metros :)

I think you are more likely to wake up and find another dumped on your drive than have yours nicked! Sad really as the metro was a great car.

[sonikk4]

This mirrors what happened to the ford scene in the late 80's and early 90's. The biggest thing that happened there was a huge increase in insurance premiums.

 

For example i was in the process of buying a Tax free Sapphire Cossie whilst i was stationed in Germany (Early 90's). Yep in Germany i could have bought the car and insured it there alongside my heavily modified RS2000 (£350 fully comp for the Escort with all mods declared and much the same for the Cossie) however in the uk i was looking at over £3k for the Cossie and well over £600+ for my RS.

 

All of this was caused by car theft that spiralled out of control.

 

Now in the last 18 months Classic car insurance is getting more and more expensive and selective for whom they insure certainly from an age group perspective. Being a crusty old git it does not affect me but for newbie drivers a lot of them will have an age cap and new drivers will not be touched and it seems to be getting higher.

 

Now not all of this is caused by theft for the mini scene but will play a large part in it. The rest will be made up of the claim culture we now live and drive in.

 

The size of our little cars make them an easy target to be lifted very easily and the only real deterrent other than having a Robocop style of alarm that fries the thieves is to have then safely locked up in a very secure garage surrounded by slavering dogs and gun posts. Nah not quite that extreme but the secured garage internally and externally with an alarm will be the way forward.

 

I for one do not let my Clubby out of my sight when i'm out and about. Paranoia maybe but i was like this with my RS. That spoils the ownership side of things as well.

[mab01uk]

I have to agree the ownership experience of a nice classic Mini's is now spoilt by the worry of always planning a journey so it is never left unattended or out of sight in a public place or even outside your house or on your own driveway (if you are lucky enough to have one).......

Edited by mab01uk, 31 May 2013 - 12:39 PM.

[olds_kool_lews]

This is why i sold up and got out of mini ownership, not worth the heartbreak if my mini was ever stolen, hence me turning my attentions to mk1 metros :)

I think you are more likely to wake up and find another dumped on your drive than have yours nicked! Sad really as the metro was a great car.

I wouldnt mind that! Lol there will be another 1 on my drive tomorrow tho ;) lol

[Jamie91]

its also a good idea not to put up what security measures you use on the forum

[DanFuke]

Surely the easiest thing is not to build an emotional attachment to the car and get an agreed valuation on it
If it gets stolen you get a better one :)

[sonikk4]

Surely the easiest thing is not to build an emotional attachment to the car and get an agreed valuation on it
If it gets stolen you get a better one :)

 

Easier said than done really. If you spend a lot of time and effort on your car either from a restoration point of view or modification then there will be an attachment.

 

My daily i am not attached to but i would be seriously pissed if it got stolen or damaged. At the end of the day its your property. You have paid for or are paying for it with your hard earned cash unless of course you are a multi millionaire and have the funds to easily replace your car.