37 replies to this topic

[Ethel]

Im gutted to hear that, i hope it all works out. I think mine was stolen for the same reason. I know it wasnt for joyriding as they came in another car to steal mine. It didnt turn up torched in the usual spot round here, and they usually do. The really annoying thing is i very nearly caught them in the act, and almost took the drivers head off with the good old sledge hammer. My street goes round in a circle, only one way in and out, so as they sped off one way round, i legged it the other way round with sledge hammer in hand (my old man insists on keeping it "handy"). As i stood there in the middle of the road my own mini came speeding towards me, so knowing full well it wasnt gonna stop i took a swing and planted the sledge hammer straight through the windscreen and knocked the passengers headrest clean off. Mini sped off regardless after a little swerve.

Never did turn up, but it was spotted sporting a freshly painted roof and new plates. Im not certain it was mine as i never saw it again.

Really hope your friend gets this sorted and doesnt lose the money she paid. There is a way and it is very naughty, equally as naughty as the theft in the first place, but if it was my 2 grand....

So you lost the sledgehammer too





Still lucky you didn't land yourself a murder charge!

[directorydaz]

Minis are always an easy traget as you only need a drill and a rivet gun to ring one. Perhaps we should all look at making it less easy?

AND A GRINDER TO THE NUMBER IN THE SCUTTLE

Guys you know that all later minis (not sure how far back it goes but i have personally owned cars from the 80's) have the chassis number stamped in the scuttle

Changing a minis id is no easyer than doing it on something like and escort!

[jack_marshall]

If the cars had another scuttle put on it at some point though..

[ROD]

Minis are always an easy traget as you only need a drill and a rivet gun to ring one. Perhaps we should all look at making it less easy?

AND A GRINDER TO THE NUMBER IN THE SCUTTLE

I didn't know that,every days a school day

[Jammy]

If the cars had another scuttle put on it at some point though..

Ha ha, don't be silly, you never hear about a mini thats needed a replacement scuttle!!

[ian]

Guys you know that all later minis (not sure how far back it goes but i have personally owned cars from the 80's) have the chassis number stamped in the scuttle



not sure either how far back it goes but my 75 van has its number stamped in the scuttle, and yes it does match up with everything else.

[directorydaz]

I have this picture in my head now.. of a bunch of the "re-shelled" cars having there scuttle ground today...

[imabitnaughtyxx]

Mine did not have a number in the scuttle, '89' shell but then most of it was rusted away.

I do know that the identity of the car has yet to be confirmed, she said she was still waititng to hear. The police have said mini thefts have gone up 75% in 3 years. They said people know the price has begun to rise.
When a niche in the market appears, thieves will fill it and a mini is an ideal and easy steal.

The police said that if the identity is not confirmed then she gets the car back, as she has documentation to prove the car in its current state is hers. So some hope after all.

I thinks its a 90's cooper if i remember rightly so should have some id marks.

The previous owner (maybe) said he was paid out on insurance but only £900, he wants the car whatever happens as he says its definately the one. It was stolen 2 months after his sisters funeral and had lots of her personal items still in it.
She had given the car to him in her will.

Its a very sad state of affairs.

[julievn]

what a god awful mess!
i can see this from both sides, if somebody took my mini i would fight tooth and nail to get it back but having lost my sister i would also do any thing to retrive anything that belonged to her!!!
i wouldnt like to be in your friends situation!

[MaryMoo]

I have just found a shop on e-Bay selling blank VIN plates for Austin and Morris minis -surely this is illegal. Something like this doesn't help those of us who have had minis stolen.

M

[directorydaz]

I have just found a shop on e-Bay selling blank VIN plates for Austin and Morris minis -surely this is illegal. Something like this doesn't help those of us who have had minis stolen.

M

If you car is older than a cirtain age (from memory '90's) you do not have to display a vin plate, its not a legal requirement..

as for the scuttle number.. where its positioned i have NEVER seen a mini rust there.. so if its missing expect the worse.. you have a ringer!

I had to replace a scuttle once, and i took photos and restamped using punches the number back on!

[Phaeton]

I have just found a shop on e-Bay selling blank VIN plates for Austin and Morris minis -surely this is illegal. Something like this doesn't help those of us who have had minis stolen.

M

But we accept that on this forum it's common practise! How many projects do you read about on here that involve reshelling? Most if not all keep the identity of the component donor not the shell donor, which in real terms is illegal but no-one says anything about it. How many owners then go along to DVLA & sort out the legalities, not many if any, they just go to the MOT station & get back on the road in what is effectively a ringer. PLEASE NOTE I am not saying that anyone is using stolen parts, I am pretty sure that the people who are doing this legally own both shells & components.

Alan...

[Se7enS1ns]

So you lost the sledgehammer too





Still lucky you didn't land yourself a murder charge!

Haha no i got that back actually, the lad stopped about 200 meters up the road, i thought my luck was in so me and the old man set of sprinting. when we got a bit closer he nailed it again, turns out he'd only stopped to kick the windscreen out complete with sledgehammer.

I should have taken a swing for the front grill, maybe it'd have smashed the dizzy cap,

[Ethel]

I think I'll take to stamping my registration round my car like bad acne.

I once had some wheels nicked, I'd have got them back if I'd bothered to mark them, a lesson I ought to learn.

[mini_kev]

Mini got stolen from up by my garage recently, at the same time my garage door got bent down so could see in, cam eback to weeks later and found two HUGE padlocks cut through and the garage lock drilled straight out! Luckily id moved the mini but they made off with a good 700 quid of stuff! Thieving scumbags!