Stolen NX found and recovered, what now?

[LadyToeBeans]

My Lexus NX was stolen from Essex on 13th March 2024 by CAN theft. Yesterday, 27 March, it was found by police and taken in to the pound for forensics. 

But now I have a ton of questions. 

The policeman was with the car when he called and ran through everything in the car and it seems like nothing has been taken - not even my Oakley sunglasses and a few other expensive items. He was describing the contents of the car exactly as i always leave it. I don't even think they opened the glove compartment. So this is all good.

However, he said there is some damage from where they have pulled out wires looking for a tracker. I don't know the extent of this damage and I don't even know where this would be? Does this mean they ripped the dash completely off? I don't know. 

Can this damage be fixed? What about the CAN? I am assuming that the car cannot be driven and I'll have to get it transported to Lexus once released from the pound. 

Then my next concern is insurance - I've already sent them the logbook and keys. The claim is still in process and no settlement figure has been given to me or even discussed yet. Do I get these items back? Do I have to get a new set of keys and start over? Do I need to apply for a new log book? The pound will only release when presented with the logbook, which insurance have so this leaves me confused and very anxious. 

I do want my car back but I have concerns, however even if I didn't want it back, I wouldn't have a choice because it's been found, is this right? 

Has anyone been through this? Any help is appreciated! 

Edit to add: I've also already notified the DVLA. If I get it back, do I have to redo all the on the road bits? I've looked for information on this but nowhere has any clear cut info. 

Edited March 28 by LadyToeBeans

[Spock66]

24 minutes ago, LadyToeBeans said:

I do want my car back but I have concerns, however even if I didn't want it back, I wouldn't have a choice because it's been found, is this right?

Not necessarily, that would be for the insurance company to decide, as it stands they could face a considerable repair bill and rental car costs so may still prefer to write off the car.

[Linas.P]

Regarding the damage - hard to say where they pulled the wires and where they looked for the tracker. I would assume it would be rather minimal in driver/passenger footwells... and I assume car would still be drivable as otherwise it is not good for them either. But hard to say without seeing it.

That said car still be written off for damages as replacing wires, dash etc. may be very expensive, so this is what insurance will have to decide, but also obviously a lot depends on you - some people really want their car back and demand it to be repaired... considering it is relatively new car I believe it should be possible (to negotiate with insurance to repair it), other people don't want to take stolen car back, both for practical and emotional reasons and still demands for cash settlement. This is something you will need to negotiate with insurance. 

In principle all things related with logbook, recovery, keys etc. All these things the insurance will have to arrange and resolve. 

I understand that impound lot won't release the car without logbook, but also I am not sure there is any benefit for you picking it up with the damage, so just contact insurance and arrange for them to deal with recover.

In mean time I cannot see any reason why you cannot go to impound lot and pick-up your personal items, police should allow this. Also if you decide to take cash settlement and leave the car for insurance to deal with, then you still have right to pick-up your personal items.

Once you get the car back to you fixed, the normal things will apply - you will need to insure it (unless you still have remaining insurance on it and they continue to cover it), pay road tax if payable, do MOTs etc. 

[LadyToeBeans]

4 minutes ago, Spock66 said:

Not necessarily, that would be for the insurance company to decide, as it stands they could face a considerable repair bill and rental car costs so may still prefer to write off the car.

I hadn't thought of that, thank you. 

[Harrier Man]

Any update on this Karen? I hope it all got resolved to your satisfaction?

[LadyToeBeans]

8 minutes ago, Harrier Man said:

Any update on this Karen? I hope it all got resolved to your satisfaction?

The last 7 weeks have been a complete nightmare. Forensics we're finally done and I was allowed to collect my belongings from the pound, but wasn't allowed to see the car. Only thing they took was my dashcam. 

The car was moved on Monday just gone (22 April) to the repair place, and I was finally able to see my car. There is no damage, and wires have been pulled in the boot and carpets in front under the dash. She drives too which surprised me. 

So now I wait for a few scratches to be repaired, wiring put back, then I'll get my car back probably in about 2 weeks or so. 

Insurance sent my documents and keys back, reinstated insurance and I've re-taxed the car. 

[RONNIE W HODGEKINSON]

Thats just Aweful what you,ve had to go through Karen..But what you are Describing the Damage does seem to be Related to the Wiring and Carpets Being Disturbed and the fact that they left nearly all of your belongings suggest to me that They were Opportunists rather than Professional Car Thieves Who Were Not in Possession of your car for any length of Time..That in mind and obviously without Seeing your Car you seem to have got of Quite Lightly so i would get the dealer to fix all the Problems and Move on with your Pride and Joy...I Have a feeling all they wanted was a Joyride in a Class car And then Panicked at what they had done... This definately was not Professional Thieves.. My Opinion Only Of Course.!!!!

[Barry14UK]

One can only speculate as we don't know whether the culprit(s) was/were suspicious that there was a tracker and wanted to disable this before leading to where it was intended to break the car for parts or whatever.  Maybe he/she/they was/were interrupted or decided they it was taking too long.  Access was obtained to the car and it was driven to where found so I don't think it was an amateur job.  Taking het Dash came was logical because of what it might have shown but I think it unlikely to have been an opportunist as other items of value were not taken.  It's academic really because it doesn't change the situation.

If this model is potentially affected using the Can bus attac, it would seem worthwhile   getting Lexus to fit the protective plate.

Would be interesting to learn the cost of repair if OP prepared to say.

[LadyToeBeans]

1 hour ago, Barry14UK said:

One can only speculate as we don't know whether the culprit(s) was/were suspicious that there was a tracker and wanted to disable this before leading to where it was intended to break the car for parts or whatever.  Maybe he/she/they was/were interrupted or decided they it was taking too long.  Access was obtained to the car and it was driven to where found so I don't think it was an amateur job.  Taking het Dash came was logical because of what it might have shown but I think it unlikely to have been an opportunist as other items of value were not taken.  It's academic really because it doesn't change the situation.

If this model is potentially affected using the Can bus attac, it would seem worthwhile   getting Lexus to fit the protective plate.

Would be interesting to learn the cost of repair if OP prepared to say.

I'm happy to share the cost - once I know myself. I agree that it wasn't amateurs because there were a few high quality items in the car which could have been sold for a sum on eBay but it all remained untouched. I also have a holdall in the car which I keep super neat and orderly, and I have it back now completely untouched. Opportunists would have rummaged and stolen stuff, and probably set it on fire or something. 

Car will go to Lexus for a final check, hybrid check, and then various levels of security are being installed, all on the same day before finally coming back home. 

[Linas.P]

On 4/27/2024 at 6:11 PM, LadyToeBeans said:

I agree that it wasn't amateurs because there were a few high quality items in the car which could have been sold for a sum on Ebay but it all remained untouched.

I doubt it has anything to do with their maturity. That is not how car thieves operate. Simply said they have dedicated roles, some steal the car, they get set amount of money for doing it and they take it from your driveway maybe only 20 miles away and park it in some industrial park. Their job done, they do not care the slightest what was in the car and how much it is worth. Separate group then moves the car after some time, same again - set price for set job, which does not include evaluating designer bags value in the car. Third group perhaps dismantles the car into part, same again - they are mechanically minded. At no point there is any incentive to anyone to put anything on eBay, because such action would compromise their operation, if you find your personal item on eBay that can lead the police to the thieves, whereas otherwise they are safe as they did their little dirty part in the process took the salary and are "off the hook". 

Removal of dash cam is obvious one, if car gets recovered then there may be incriminating information on it, also many dashcams have GPS tracking and similar features. Boot carpet- I suspect were looking for tracker. Carpet under the dash - same reason.

[LadyToeBeans]

Hi everyone

Thought I would update this thread on the latest in this saga. 

I have my car back, got it back in 3rd week of June. The repair costs amounted to £9800. However, I don't agree with half of it because most of the scratches (which were barely visible) were already there as I have dogs. But the repair place naturally hunted for every single thing they could find to pump up the costs but not so high that insurance wrote it off. Anyway, whatever, they did a good job overall even though their communication was shoddy and rude. 

I sent the car to Lexus who were very good in giving it a good examination and they picked up that the WiFi box had been removed (I wondered why I couldn't get the Link app working again) and that there is some trim inside the front bumper which has not been seated correctly. Lexus want 200 quid to remove the bumper and sort this out but I don't see why I should pay for that so I'll be taking this up with insurance because the repair place are not answering me (as expected 🙄🙄).

Lexus also gave me a quote of £620 to put in a new WiFi box. My question to all of you who know more about Lexus than me is, do I really need this back in the car? I have managed to source a new WiFi box myself but I have no idea how to fit it and program it, does anyone know where I can find this information? Otherwise I just won't bother as the tracker I have fitted does pretty much the same thing. 

In addition, when I collected my car, it was foul. There was apple juice in the car when it was stolen which had exploded all over the front floor and it STANK. I have had the car cleaned and detailed, and scrubbed the rubber mats with soap and a power washer, but the smell is in the leather mostly in the front seats. Does anyone have any idea what I can clean with to rid the smell? I am a microbiologist so my germophobia is real, I have meticulously cleaned the car myself as well as a valet service and left no crevice unturned 😂 yet the smell remains. Any advice? 

The car is running absolutely perfectly and we have tested out every single system under various conditions and everything is 100% which I'm glad and relieved about.

My insurance excess in all this was £350.

Other than that, I am glad to have my car back!! And so is my German Shepherd! 

[CT200h-TL]

To get rid of the smell, an ozone treatment might be the way to go. Some detailers offer this service, costs around £60 two years ago but needed two treatments (wasn't charged again for the second treatment) to get rid of smoke smell in my previous car. Alternatively, you can buy an ozone generator yourself. Good luck!

[LadyToeBeans]

52 minutes ago, CT200h-TL said:

To get rid of the smell, an ozone treatment might be the way to go. Some detailers offer this service, costs around £60 two years ago but needed two treatments (wasn't charged again for the second treatment) to get rid of smoke smell in my previous car. Alternatively, you can buy an ozone generator yourself. Good luck!

Thanks will have a look!