Car stolen

Anderson carrera · June 27

Hi i had my car stolen early this morning LJ18OCC hoping i can recover it 🙏🏾🙏🏾

Spottedlaurel · June 27

Sorry to hear that. Do you know what method was used, and had your RX been fitted with the security plates?

Paul Mingay · June 29

Following this

GSLV6 · June 30

Ditto. Any extra security such as a steering wheel lock used?

Had an attempted theft on mine last week but they scarpered when confronted.

LenT · June 30

2 hours ago, GSLV6 said:

Any extra security such as a steering wheel lock used?

Anderson, I’m sure everyone has every sympathy for you as a victim of car theft. But Paul’s question is an interesting one and any further detail you can offer may well help other owners.

I’ve had Diskloks and currently a Milenco steering wheel lock. While it’s true that none of my cars were even targeted with these locks on - it’s also true that none of my cars without them were targeted either!

So knowing what precautions an actual thief had to overcome would be useful. Was the glass security etched? Did you have any Immobiliser fitted?

You also say it was early morning. How do you know this? Did the alarm sound? Was it parked in a drive or on the road? Was the remote unlocking system active or deactivated? Were the keys in a Faraday pouch?

I don’t mean this to sound like a cross examination, but the north London I left as a child nearly 70 years ago was one where you could leave your front door unlocked - let alone your car! These days I would hesitate to even park in the street where I grew up.

Mind you, back then I don’t think many people had a car worth stealing! 😊

GSLV6 · July 1

It's a sad reflection on UK society that true communities mainly only exist in some rural or semi rural parts, and that you cannot leave anything unlocked or unattended. I grew up in the late 60's and 70's and it wasn't unknown for people to go on holiday and return without houses being locked up! Car theft was a very rare occurrence and was the talk of the street if one ever happened. These days, you have to worry yourself silly about security, both of the home and the car.

To anyone else reading this, I can only echo Len's comments. Irrespective of what model you drive, the following precautions should see your car at far less risk of becoming a theft statistic. I'll even put costs on some of these things to show that it's not a lot to invest:

Disklok steering lock: With discount: £135....not a lot to reduce risk significantly? That or the Stoplock Pro Elite steering lock are both popular models

Faraday box sold on amazon containing two key pouches and one key card pouch as well as a sturdy shielded box: £18...it's a no-brainer. Keep it in your bedroom, not near the front door.

Wheel lock: Avoid no brand Chinese made cheap ones..they're next to useless. A decent one starts at around £80 and a really good one is around £140 (such as the Bulldog clamps or RAC endorsed Purpleline nemisis lock for a little more).

Park your car facing the house to make it more awkward for a quick getaway.

If you are fortunate and have a large enough driveway, park your car close to the garage or house and if your spouse has a car or you have a second small runabout, park it tight up behind your lexus. The noise and effort of having to shift the first car is likely enough to prevent any theft.

The chances of even professional thieves targeting a prestige car with these simple precautions are very slim.

Also, it pays, if you've been away, and particularly if at a hotel with accessible car park or at an airport car park, sweep the car for tracking devices (air tags found using an Iphone or a cheap gps tracker detector available on amazon ). Mine was likely targeted due to a tracker fitted after I parked up at a hotel with work recently but fortunately they were disturbed....I got lucky.

eightk · July 1

Just to add I had Faraday pouches, but I tested them close to my cars and found they didn't work. I now have a Faraday tin with a solid, tight fitting lid - zero signal leakage - on amazon for less than £20.

GMB · July 1

Any tin will do. Even bacofoil will block RF. Ask any shoplifter.

You can get some nice biscuits in a nice tin and then use the tin afterwards or even with some biscuits still in it as long as there is room for the keys to fit in but don't buy cheap biscuits, life is too short. Hang on... this is getting silly now.😶‍🌫️

Sybaris · July 1

If you find an air tag could you visit you nice neighbourhood constabulary and put it on one of their cars?

GSLV6 · July 1

They wouldn't notice...

Sybaris · July 1

No but it would be fun for the thieves to follow them about, maybe get caught.

GMB · July 2

19 hours ago, Sybaris said:

If you find an air tag could you visit you nice neighbourhood constabulary and put it on one of their cars?

Reply from Plod HQ:

a) We don't have any neighbourhood police stations or constabularies anymore.

b) We don't have any Constables.

c) We only have one police car and it's a ford escort c1982 and it's broken as well.

d) We don't care anyway.

e) Get a crime number and tell your insurance so that they have an excuse to put the premiums up.

f) Where's me doughnuts?

Tom, · July 8

Why would a villain fit an air tag tracker to your car? If he's going to steal it, why not go ahead and take it instead of messing around fitting a tracker? I already have one concealed in my car, but that's in case it does get pinched and I can find out where it is.

Jammycakes · July 8

On 6/27/2024 at 9:01 PM, Anderson carrera said:

Hi i had my car stolen early this morning LJ18OCC hoping i can recover it 🙏🏾🙏🏾

We just bought our Lexus RX450h 4 days ago. Only found out about the lexus rx450h being stolen when I was researching the car at the weekend.

I saw a video from a car security firm that fits Ghost immobilisers saying theft is now like an epidemic for Lexus cars.

We were aware of the Toyota Rav4 being susceptible to theft but not the RX.

We have already invested in the Faraday boxes from amazon. Only £18.99. We got 2. One downstairs and one in the bedroom. These boxes also came with the Faraday pouches. They work well. Tested them on the car and comfort opening stops working when keys are in closed boxes while you are standing next to car

We also have our son park his car behind the Lexus on the drive to act as a visual deterrent and stop any attempt.

We live in a small seaside town and this type of crime isn't heard of around here but we are only an hour away from London and my wife works near London plans to drive there regularly in the Lexus.

We've booked the car in for the VPP (vehicle protection plate) to be fitted free on the 16th July and await a phone call from Lexus Service team at the dealership to advise when the more thorough "security enhancements" will be available or if customers are already being booked in for them.

Will update here when I hear.

Muzgul · July 8

Hi All

thanks for sharing experiences.

I am buying a LExus 450h F Sport 2020, already panicking due to ridiculous insurance quote and news about thefts. Dealer is installing theft protection plates and I will buy Faraday box/pouches.

What else can be done to bring the insurance price down. I got quote for £2200 (even with a tracker). This is 3 times more than what I used to pay for run around Honda. I have a gated drive away, locked garage. I will also use steering immobilizer as suggested above.

Which Tracker is best and acceptable by insurers?

Any suggestions would be appreciated to improve security and reduce insurance.

Thanks and regards

MG

LenT · July 8

27 minutes ago, Muzgul said:

I have a gated drive away, locked garage.

Short of adding security posts in front of the garage doors, this is a very good start - provided you make a point of putting the car away every time!

Thieves generally target the cars they see parked around the neighbourhood. Or maybe follow them when spotted in car parks.

So reducing its visibility is clearly beneficial and I would have thought warranted a reduced premium. But of course cars are also stolen when away from home, when you’re out shopping or having a meal. Then you need the layered protection as you’ve already suggested - a Disklok for the steering wheel, Ghost Tracker (or similar) and a dashcam that will warn you if an attempt is made to gain entry or move the car.

You might also consider a Home Security system such as Eufy cameras. For one thing, you may want to monitor who’s knocking on the door before you open it. Breaking in to get the keys may be the only course left for the determined thief!

Only by contacting insurers directly will you really be able to find out if they recognise the reduced risk these arrangements offer. Sadly I don’t think that many do. I think that much of the increase in Premiums is as much due to the inflated costs of repair work that is more easily caused by accident damage that then leads to a write off, then outright theft.

Jammycakes · July 8

3 hours ago, Jammycakes said:

We just bought our Lexus RX450h 4 days ago. Only found out about the lexus rx450h being stolen when I was researching the car at the weekend.

I saw a video from a car security firm that fits Ghost immobilisers saying theft is now like an epidemic for Lexus cars.

We were aware of the Toyota Rav4 being susceptible to theft but not the RX.

We have already invested in the Faraday boxes from Amazon. Only £18.99. We got 2. One downstairs and one in the bedroom. These boxes also came with the faraday pouches. They work well. Tested them on the car and comfort opening stops working when keys are in closed boxes while you are standing next to car

We also have our son park his car behind the Lexus on the drive to act as a visual deterrent and stop any attempt.

We live in a small seaside town and this type of crime isn't heard of around here but we are only an hour away from London and my wife works near London plans to drive there regularly in the Lexus.

We've booked the car in for the VPP (vehicle protection plate) to be fitted free on the 16th July and await a phone call from Lexus Service team at the dealership to advise when the more thorough "security enhancements" will be available or if customers are already being booked in for them.

Will update here when I hear.

We had a call from the Lexus dealer. They advised us that for now all Lexus are doing is the Free VPP plate which we are booked in for.

As far as the security enhancements, about which there is a post on this forum, we should ignore that post and any other info on forums and social media. It will be "speculation" at this stage as Lexus haven't officially stated to the dealer network what the enhancements will look like.

So for now we will get the VPP installed and continue to have our sons car parked behind the Lexus, blocking it into the driveway.

We were going to get a Ghost 2 installed but will hang fire till Lexus announce what they will be offering to fix this issue.

Jammycakes · July 8

There was a video on YouTube where this car security company was installing some kind of alarm to the nearside front bumper and wheel arch liner and if an attempt was made to unclip the bumper or wheel arch liner to access the Canbus wiring the alarm is set off.

Looked really effective but still meant that the attempt at theft was made and bumper or just clips could get damaged. But at least car was blasting it's horn and an attempt at a silent theft would now wake the whole neighbourhood.

Be great if Lexus offered something like this.

Muzgul · July 8

1 hour ago, Jammycakes said:

We had a call from the Lexus dealer. They advised us that for now all Lexus are doing is the Free VPP plate which we are booked in for.

As far as the security enhancements, about which there is a post on this forum, we should ignore that post and any other info on forums and social media. It will be "speculation" at this stage as Lexus haven't officially stated to the dealer network what the enhancements will look like.

So for now we will get the VPP installed and continue to have our sons car parked behind the Lexus, blocking it into the driveway.

We were going to get a Ghost 2 installed but will hang fire till Lexus announce what they will be offering to fix this issue.

what are the VPP Plates? are these plates behind headlight to stop access to avoid Can Bus attack?

Jammycakes · July 8

Hi

VPP are vehicle protection plates

I don't actually know what they are or how or where they are fitted.

I presume it is fitted around the nearside headlight, bumper edge or wheel arch liner area.

I have my car booked in for next week, I will share their details after the install.

If you've got the car already. I would book the car in for the free install. At least you'll have the added protection while waiting for Lexus to get the stronger fix ready.

We had no issues swapping the insurance from an Audi to the RX. Nothing was asked about any extra security etc. Could be because of where we live.

Going by my sons experience, I suggest checking every comparison website and phoning every insurer (like the old days)

Dont know if it will help you but he got a much cheaper quote by stating an insurance start date 29 days later.

A Martin Lewis trick that worked very well for my son.

Muzgul · July 8

Hi Jamil

thanks for the response. I am getting my car on the weekend and already requested dealer to pre-install protection plates before handover. I hope these are same plates which we are discussing.

JBPRX400h · July 8

2 hours ago, Jammycakes said:

Hi

VPP are vehicle protection plates

I don't actually know what they are or how or where they are fitted.

I presume it is fitted around the nearside headlight, bumper edge or wheel arch liner area.

I have my car booked in for next week, I will share their details after the install.

If you've got the car already. I would book the car in for the free install. At least you'll have the added protection while waiting for Lexus to get the stronger fix ready.

We had no issues swapping the insurance from an Audi to the RX. Nothing was asked about any extra security etc. Could be because of where we live.

Going by my sons experience, I suggest checking every comparison website and phoning every insurer (like the old days)

Dont know if it will help you but he got a much cheaper quote by stating an insurance start date 29 days later.

A Martin Lewis trick that worked very well for my son.