2021 - RX450H Takumi Stolen from my drive

[m3dsb]

Very annoyed with Lexus and Insurance companies. 

I have had two security mods to the car to stop theft, even with these the insurance renewal shot through the roof even with 20 plus years NCB.

I Spoke to my old and new Insurance companies as well as Lexus for an explanation, and NONE was given from any of them.

The three-man team (one of them was on lookout) took 30 to 40 mins at the passenger front wheel arch and didn't make a sound. even when cutting the steering lock. Then drove the car off the drive.

You can obliviously guess the double take when looking at the CCTV and not seeing my pride and joy.

Tracker on app, that worked the day before, stopped working, feels insurance are ready to pay, Police, not been seen, but was on the phone as we drove around trying to find the car at 5am.

But I did get a call from Lexus with some sympathy, and a request to help me find another car.

It is only a car, but I am still annoyed a week later that someone thinks they have the right to my property and all my memories made with it .

 

 

[Somebody67]

Sorry to read about the theft of your car.

Can I just ask, had Lexus fitted vehicle protection plates behind your headlights and also fitted the tracker to your car?

[m3dsb]

Hi

 

They did the CAT protection and something between the wheel arch and the front camera. I did ask at the time, but they were vague, saying it was protection from access from these areas.

[Somebody67]

I see, sounds like your Lexus dealer experience is as crap as my local dealer experience is.  I expected more from a luxury car manufacturer's dealership when I bought my RX (first Lexus vehicle Ive bought)

[old man 2]

 I'm gutted for you, I abhor this sort of thing.

Can I ask what type of steering lock you had  ?

[m3dsb]

The lock was a deterent, not a full circular lock, and was covered to conceal what type of lock it was.

[old man 2]

5 minutes ago, m3dsb said:

The lock was a deterent, not a full circular lock, and was covered to conceal what type of lock it was.

 

I'd appreciate knowing what type of lock it was. I ask because I have a Stoplock Pro which I used in my previous car, but which won't fit the Lexus. I'm thinking of getting a Stplock Pro Elite which would fit, but I see little point if yours was a Stoplock and thieves were able to cut through it quickly and with little noise.

Was yours a Stoplock ?

[Paul Mingay]

Where do you live ?

[old man 2]

1 hour ago, Paul Mingay said:

Where do you live ?

 If you're referrring to me, it's in my signature, but what difference does it make ?

[LenT]

1 hour ago, old man 2 said:

I'd appreciate knowing what type of lock it was. I ask because I have a Stoplock Pro which I used in my previous car, but which won't fit the Lexus. I'm thinking of getting a Stplock Pro Elite which would fit, but I see little point if yours was a Stoplock and thieves were able to cut through it quickly and with little noise.

I have a Milenco, which is one of only two steering wheel locks to pass a 5 minute attack test - the other being the Disklok.

In the past I have had Stoplocks and Diskloks, but now feel that the Milenco is the best compromise for me in terms of convenience of use, its obvious visible deterrence and cost.  Although if you’ve just spent a substantial sum buying a new Lexus, then the extra cost of a Disklok may not be significant - and I believe they are regarded as the gold standard in auto security.

I’ve attached one test of steering locks that you may find helpful - there are many more online.  

https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-steering-wheel-locks/n26807

[Paul Mingay]

8 hours ago, old man 2 said:

 If you're referrring to me, it's in my signature, but what difference does it make ?

Sorry ,I was just wondering if you lived in London or surrounding areas where our cars are at higher risk ,,I'm in Essex (no jokes lol )

[old man 2]

3 hours ago, Paul Mingay said:

Sorry ,I was just wondering if you lived in London or surrounding areas where our cars are at higher risk ,,I'm in Essex (no jokes lol )

No, I'm in sleepy Somerset and whilst not as high risk as you and others, theft is not unknown here. Also, I live in close proximity to an M5 junction and oiks from Bristol and Birmingham have been known to drive down this way and steal things and then they're straight on the motorway and gone !

Edited yesterday at 10:41 AM by ColinBarber
defamatory

[ColinBarber]

11 hours ago, LenT said:

I’ve attached one test of steering locks that you may find helpful - there are many more online.  

People using CAN bus attacks aren't opportunist thieves, so will likely come with Battery operated angle grinders. Maybe you get lucky and they move on to an easier target but anything other than a full circular lock isn't going to stop them as they would just cut the steering wheel. There are also videos online that show Lexus vehicles being stolen where a disk lock is cut through in seconds.

[old man 2]

3 hours ago, old man 2 said:

No, I'm in sleepy Somerset and whilst not as high risk as you and others, theft is not unknown here. Also, I live in close proximity to an M5 junction and oiks from Bristol and Birmingham have been known to drive down this way and steal things and then they're straight on the motorway and gone !

I see you've deleted my last comment Colin and whilst I understand why you've done so, what I wrote isn't wrong.

Here is the definition of defamatory;

Quote

Defamatory means damaging the reputation of a person or group by saying or writing bad things about them that are not true

What I wrote is absolutely true.

[ColinBarber]

2 hours ago, old man 2 said:

 

I see you've deleted my last comment Colin and whilst I understand why you've done so, what I wrote isn't wrong.

Here is the definition of defamatory;

What I wrote is absolutely true.

It's discrimination against a group of people, unless you have proof that every single member of that group is guilty of what you suggest.

[old man 2]

25 minutes ago, ColinBarber said:

It's discrimination against a group of people, unless you have proof that every single member of that group is guilty of what you suggest.

 Or I could just name one 😉. Just joking now Colin.

[LenT]

3 hours ago, ColinBarber said:

but anything other than a full circular lock isn't going to stop them as they would just cut the steering wheel. 

I think that certainly applies to the Stoplock, but I suggest that the Milenco is a tougher proposition.  It has two steel pins which locate either side of a steering wheel spoke and then lock in to a very substantial steel bar.

Just cutting the steering wheel wouldn’t free the Milenco.  I think a thief would have to cut the wheel either side of the two pins and then cut through the spoke - which would not be a straightforward task.  Not only would this be noisy and time consuming, it would also be quite dangerous in such a confined space.

So it would surely also contravene Health & Safety Regulations.  😋

This is how I fit mine…

[Paul Mingay]

50 minutes ago, LenT said:

I think that certainly applies to the Stoplock, but I suggest that the Milenco is a tougher proposition.  It has two steel pins which locate either side of a steering wheel spoke and then lock in to a very substantial steel bar.

Just cutting the steering wheel wouldn’t free the Milenco.  I think a thief would have to cut the wheel either side of the two pins and then cut through the spoke - which would not be a straightforward task.  Not only would this be noisy and time consuming, it would also be quite dangerous in such a confined space.

So it would surely also contravene Health & Safety Regulations.  😋

This is how I fit mine…

Same as mine 👍

[Phil xxkr]

1 hour ago, LenT said:

I think that certainly applies to the Stoplock, but I suggest that the Milenco is a tougher proposition.  It has two steel pins which locate either side of a steering wheel spoke and then lock in to a very substantial steel bar.

Just cutting the steering wheel wouldn’t free the Milenco.  I think a thief would have to cut the wheel either side of the two pins and then cut through the spoke - which would not be a straightforward task.  Not only would this be noisy and time consuming, it would also be quite dangerous in such a confined space.

So it would surely also contravene Health & Safety Regulations.  😋

This is how I fit mine…

Battery powered angle grinders are extraordinary tools, ask the white van man brigade who have the roof and sides cut out with them 😒

[LenT]

16 minutes ago, Phil xxkr said:

Battery powered angle grinders are extraordinary tools, ask the white van man brigade who have the roof and sides cut out with them 😒

Indeed they are Phil.  And there’s many a crash victim that owes their life to being cut out of their vehicle.  But as you say, it usually starts with the roof in order to provide access.  I would not fancy cutting in a confined cabin with the chance of the blade kicking back while trying to cut between the solid steel bar and the wheel spoke.

In the interests of fellow members, I would normally offer up my own vehicle on which to conduct an experiment.  Unfortunately, I have just had a stone chip repaired on the driver’s door and fear that cutting the steering wheel might render that investment pointless!  🤭

[Pauly C]

3 hours ago, ColinBarber said:

It's discrimination against a group of people, unless you have proof that every single member of that group is guilty of what you suggest.

Without wishing to pop down some kind of rabbit hole here... I would respectfully suggest the 'group of people' you mention Colin was, effectively, made up by Paul (Old Man 2)...so, if Paul chooses to make up a theoretical group of 'oiks' that emanate from somewhere within the Midlands area, who are we to judge against that?  He's expressing his opinion, so why not let him do so?  🤔🙂

[old man 2]

34 minutes ago, Pauly C said:

Without wishing to pop down some kind of rabbit hole here... I would respectfully suggest the 'group of people' you mention Colin was, effectively, made up by Paul (Old Man 2)...so, if Paul chooses to make up a theoretical group of 'oiks' that emanate from somewhere within the Midlands area, who are we to judge against that?  He's expressing his opinion, so why not let him do so?  🤔🙂

 In fairness to Colin, his deletion of my comment was not about oiks, but about another bunch of well known people which you didn't see because he deleted it.

[Salvador]

3 hours ago, LenT said:

I think that certainly applies to the Stoplock, but I suggest that the Milenco is a tougher proposition.  It has two steel pins which locate either side of a steering wheel spoke and then lock in to a very substantial steel bar.

Just cutting the steering wheel wouldn’t free the Milenco.  I think a thief would have to cut the wheel either side of the two pins and then cut through the spoke - which would not be a straightforward task.  Not only would this be noisy and time consuming, it would also be quite dangerous in such a confined space.

So it would surely also contravene Health & Safety Regulations.  😋

This is how I fit mine…

I also use the Milenco but fit mine upright on the left side. I feel doing like that gives the would be thief less room to work. Brilliant bit of kit though and so easy to fit and remove. 

[LenT]

44 minutes ago, Salvador said:

I also use the Milenco but fit mine upright on the left side. I feel doing like that gives the would be thief less room to work. Brilliant bit of kit though and so easy to fit and remove. 

Yes, I have tried that Salv.  I then found I’d trapped my left leg and had to contort myself in a most unseemly manner to get out!  I agree it’s the position the steering wheel naturally comes to rest, so maybe I should persevere.

I’ll try moving my leg before fitting the lock!  That might work!  😊

[Salvador]

When I pull up I turn the wheel slightly to the right, this keeps the Milenco to the left and fairly close to the centre console. I find it also sits nicely on the wheel and the weight of it isn't pushing on the leather too much. I don't suppose it matters but that's my way lol.