You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!
What's up with all the MINIs in DCMM land being broken in to lately? What a sight to greet my eyes when I came out to leave for work this morning. Did I mention I supposedly live in a secured building with a secured parking garage?!
Luckily I have a friend who owns an auto glass place and says he will replace it with OEM glass, and will do it before the end of the day today. And from my owning-a-jeep-wrangler days, I still had my $0 deductible comprehensive (windshield used to crack all the time), so at least it won't cost anything.
They also hit 2 other cars (at least that we know of) in my parking garage, too. Stole my GPS unit, even though it wasn't mounted in the windshield. I called Garmin to report it stolen, and they told me they often look for the suction cup "rings" left on windshields to know if a vehicle has a GPS inside
So, if you haven't already, please at least register your GPS unit and save the serial number and receipt in your lockbox. The police officer said they rarely recover them, but it doesn't hurt and pawn shops and eBay check against known lists of stolen units.
I just feel like my MINI has been violated. *sigh*
__________________
'05 PS/B MC Premium, Sport (minus the run-flats), Cold, Anthracite Headliner/Interior, Spoiler, Front/Rear Fogs
Do you happen to live at the Metropolitan apartments? I lived in Herndon and hated it, my Accord got broken into and had it's radio stolen, but fortunately they thieves got caught. When I lived in the Metropolitan a bunch of cars got hit one night there, 4 or 5.
Sux to hear about your loss. It happened to me back in January. Got my GPS, and my bag with all my Refi Info.
Ya, the suction cup is the mark people...I mean thieves are looking for.
If GPS can get us to a location using a GPS signal, why can't they code each GPS System to find the GPS after it is stolen. That way they catch the thieves and I get my GPS back? Or is that too Big Brother?
Good luck.
__________________ PS/B '03 MCSl RMW Tune l JCW 380's l ALTA 15% Redux Pulley l ALTA 2% Crank Pulley l ALTA CAI w/ hose l ALTA Intercooler Diverter l B&B Exhaust l Kingsborne Wires l IK22's l Team-Dynamics PR1's l JCW BBK l M7 STB l Vogtland Coilovers l Madness 19mm Rear Sway Bar l Helix SS l MinSpeed TS l STRI Gauges l PIAA 540's l Clear Tails l Rear Fog l Aero Grills l
That sucks. :( I'm *still* finding pieces of glass inside my MINI from when it got broken into... and that was almost two years ago!
That, and I ended up having to take the door panel off a few months ago to finally dig out all of the glass from inside the door... took half a day to vacuum/scrape/dig all of the shards out. Grr....
That, and I ended up having to take the door panel off....
Congrats on getting the door panel off. My friend who owns an auto glass company spent a good hour trying to figure it out and called to several of his contacts at other auto glass installers (in and out of state) to see if anyone knew how to get it off. I guess MINI owners all go to the dealerships entirely too often!
Nope, not in the Metropolitan, but in a brand new complex in Herndon. My friend said by the broken glass of the three vehicles that it wasn't a professional job. He said it was probably kids or the construction workers that are always hanging about the place.
And GPS units are only receiving devices, they don't transmit. Thus, they can't track them. However, I have a friend that has informed me I should put the screen lock on it and a few other security features so at least if it is stolen, they won't be able to use it (well, they can't register it or update it since I let Garmin know it was a stolen unit, but...).
Thanks for the sympathy from everyone. I know this is ultimately just a little thing, but it still sucks.
__________________
'05 PS/B MC Premium, Sport (minus the run-flats), Cold, Anthracite Headliner/Interior, Spoiler, Front/Rear Fogs
Man, I remember living in Herndon. I hated every minute of it. Fortunately I only has a six month lease and moved to Ballston after that. Best move of my live!!
__________________
2009 JCWBRG/WHT
Mods: KW V1 Coilovers, Alta lower control arms, Alta 19mm swaybar, Alta 2" shorty antenna, JCW drilled/slotted front rotors, JCW Brake Duct Kit and new-style splitters, driving lights, JCW Carbon/Alcantara Shifter and E-brake w/Alcantara boots. Future mods: Downpipe (vendor tbd) Forge FMIC, JCW Alcantara wheel
They also hit 2 other cars (at least that we know of) in my parking garage, too. Stole my GPS unit, even though it wasn't mounted in the windshield. I called Garmin to report it stolen, and they told me they often look for the suction cup "rings" left on windshields to know if a vehicle has a GPS inside
We heard in DC from the local police about 10 months ago that GPS thefts were way up and to be sure to carry wipes to remove any suction cup ring marks from windscreens etc. when parking the cars. The notication also mentioned they will look inside for any kind of wires showing - ipods, cell phones, GPS - they don't care what it is. But if they see wires, they will break in to see if they can find the device the wires are supposed to be attached to.
__________________ "Isabelle" 2003 IB/W MC She is utterly and completely stock. I like her that way. Motoring ID HEY424 Past Presidents of DCMM Support Group Leader
Sorry to hear about your Mini. Happened to me while I was there. Can't really stop/prevent it in the DC area.
I accredit nothing being stolen due to my OEM alarm though. It flashes the high beams while it makes a very high pitched alarm wail... And my high beams are wired to my alta lightbar, so since they can't open the doors with them locked by the remote, making a lot of sound and a lot of light helps drive them off.
I did have to replace the window, but that was it.
Just happened to me last week - They saw my Kuda mount and after trying to pry the window down to open the door via slim jim of some sort, and causing a LOT of damage along the way, they finally just smashed their way in. In Columbia, no less.
Funny....never had a map stolen from my car before....why all the new concern knowing where you're going ?
Sorry to see these things guys.......it really sucks that we live in a world where "others" can't put their nose to the grindstone and work for their stuff as we good citizens do.
__________________
I guess I should've kept my mouth shut when I started to brag about my car but now I can't back down cos I pushed the other guys too far
She makes me come alive and makes me want to drive when she says "Don't worry baby....everything will be alright"
However, I have a friend that has informed me I should put the screen lock on it and a few other security features so at least if it is stolen, they won't be able to use it (well, they can't register it or update it since I let Garmin know it was a stolen unit, but...).
hope the increase security.
"Isabelle" 2003 IB/W MC
There are two things I prefer topless. The first is my MINI...
