Our 2010 MCS Mayfair was stolen from Long Island City last weekend. We parked it about a block from our hotel on Friday afternoon and it was gone when we returned on Saturday afternoon. It took four hours for the police to show up and take our police report, and then they acted like they did not believe it was stolen.

We have the keys. There was no broken glass. Given the paucity of parking in the area, it seems likely (assuming the car was taken out on a flatbed) that they had to drag the car out of the space before they could ramp it up onto a flatbed.

What I want to know is what do you do with a stolen MINI? You cannot drive it, and it is hard to imagine there is much market for stolen parts for a newish car. I am having trouble making sense out of all of this. Guess I need to change my sig...

 

Absolutely horrible! I would freak! May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the crotches of the bastard(s) who took it.

Don't underestimate the value of parts for a newer car. MINI parts in particular are very expensive, and cars are always worth more in pieces than they are as a whole. I cannot believe how nonchalant the police were, though. There is no excuse for that!

On a related note: Since you have the keys and there was no broken glass, indicating that it was towed away, were you perhaps parked illegally or on private property? If the car was financed were you up-to-date on payments? Just had to ask to rule out all possibilities

 

Legally parked as confirmed by police, and I check NYC towing records daily. Payments current.

 

Any surveillance cameras in the area? Thats what I would be checking first. Other than that get LoJack installed in your next vehicle. Hopefully some positive news will be coming your way in this mess.

 

You've not had to deal with this is you can't believe that fact. If they aren't generating revenue they're not really very interested.

 

No, no surveillance cameras. Next time I park in a paid lot. I probably saved $15 by parking on the street. Not a real economy, was it?

I have the impression Lojack is easily located and removed if the thief is a pro. And the car is normally garaged.

All this so we could watch my wife's son play soccer!