Recovering stolen car
Discussion
First time this has happened for me, but it just seems to be a bit weird, so I wanted to make sure that this is how it is meant to work.
I bought a pre-reg car a number of years back. It (and my other cars) were stolen off the drive after theives broke into the house to grab the keys.
As it was pre-reg, it appears that the dealer who had been storing it had installed a tracker. A couple of days after the theft, the police called me, asking me to phone this tracker company. The tracker company asked if I realised I had a tracker in the car, and would I like them to activate it for the low fee of £250.
I agreed to pay, and about 20 minutes later, I get a call from the police on the other side of the country, saying that they are picking up the car.
I contact the insurance company, and give them the officer's details. The insurance company finds the car and retrieves it.
It is apparently shown no significant damage, but as the keys were taken, and not available, the repairers have to break in, and replace all the ECUs and security modules, as well as installing new locks.
The car is then scheduled to be delivered back to me. However, my local police force are now asking to take the car, because they want to examine it for fingerprints and other forensics. This is where I am getting a bit confused, as would this be useful, now that the car has been torn apart to replace all the security systems?
I'm guessing that this is not how things normally work, but I'm just a bit confused as to whether if the police now want the car, whether I am going to have to be without it for a period while it waits for forensics.
I bought a pre-reg car a number of years back. It (and my other cars) were stolen off the drive after theives broke into the house to grab the keys.
As it was pre-reg, it appears that the dealer who had been storing it had installed a tracker. A couple of days after the theft, the police called me, asking me to phone this tracker company. The tracker company asked if I realised I had a tracker in the car, and would I like them to activate it for the low fee of £250.
I agreed to pay, and about 20 minutes later, I get a call from the police on the other side of the country, saying that they are picking up the car.
I contact the insurance company, and give them the officer's details. The insurance company finds the car and retrieves it.
It is apparently shown no significant damage, but as the keys were taken, and not available, the repairers have to break in, and replace all the ECUs and security modules, as well as installing new locks.
The car is then scheduled to be delivered back to me. However, my local police force are now asking to take the car, because they want to examine it for fingerprints and other forensics. This is where I am getting a bit confused, as would this be useful, now that the car has been torn apart to replace all the security systems?
I'm guessing that this is not how things normally work, but I'm just a bit confused as to whether if the police now want the car, whether I am going to have to be without it for a period while it waits for forensics.
Aphrabehn said:
What difference does that make?
If one key is stolen and not recovered the locks will have to be changed anyway.
More thought required.
Indeed. I specifically spoke with the insurers about this, as I was unsure if both keys had been taken (as I had to check with a relative whether they had it or not). If one key is stolen and not recovered the locks will have to be changed anyway.
More thought required.
They said it made no difference. Even if I had a spare key, they recommended complete replacement of all locks and recoding/replacement of all electronics, and that if I refused to have the work done, they would not be able to cover the car for theft in the future.
sunbeam alpine said:
Sorry if this is a really stupid question, but if it's a pre-reg car does this mean it's not registered to use on the road?
If so, does it matter how long you have to wait to get it back - certainly if it increases the chances of catching the scrotes who took it?
Maybe I got the name wrong.If so, does it matter how long you have to wait to get it back - certainly if it increases the chances of catching the scrotes who took it?
The dealer had bought it new and registered themselves as the first keeper. However, if they do this, they are not allowed to sell the car on for some time. I bought it 3 months old as the 2nd keeper but with 0 miles. Presumably, they installed the tracker in case it got nicked while sitting in their storage facility/
Had some long chats with the police, insurers and repairers.
It appears that the force which found the car (not my local one) released it to the insurer and failed to contact my local force. The insurer's recovery agent had to break in because he didn't have a key, and had to secure loose objects, release handbrake/gears, etc. so evidence was damaged right from the start.
I did contact my local police once I heard it had been found, but the message was passed through routinely, and didn't get acted on as the investigating officer was off. Finally, they decided that given so many people had been in the car, it is doubtful that any forensic results could be relied on, and they have decided not to proceed.
The insurer has written off my other cars. The police have advised, that if I get any update about these cars, that I call 101 and explain the situation and make sure that the matter is referred for urgent investigation, so that the local police can recover the cars themselves.
It appears that the force which found the car (not my local one) released it to the insurer and failed to contact my local force. The insurer's recovery agent had to break in because he didn't have a key, and had to secure loose objects, release handbrake/gears, etc. so evidence was damaged right from the start.
I did contact my local police once I heard it had been found, but the message was passed through routinely, and didn't get acted on as the investigating officer was off. Finally, they decided that given so many people had been in the car, it is doubtful that any forensic results could be relied on, and they have decided not to proceed.
The insurer has written off my other cars. The police have advised, that if I get any update about these cars, that I call 101 and explain the situation and make sure that the matter is referred for urgent investigation, so that the local police can recover the cars themselves.
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