Hi all,

I just had my purse stolen today (including car keys, house keys, driver's license with address)....the locks on the house have already been changed, but now I'm worried about my MINI. I'm worried that the guy will show up at my house and steal my car. Other than installing the alarm, any other suggestions? A Club? Change the locks on the MINI (oof, pricey)?

Thanks!

 

Is there any way your MINI dealer can reprogram your keys, so that the key you lost can't be used on the car?

If not, I would cough up the cash for new locks/keys -- today, if possible. Better to blow a few hundred on that than to suffer the loss of your car.

 

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. I would install an alarm and call the dealer to see if they could recode the keys you have. The person who took your purse could open your car but wouldn't be able to start it. Changing the locks would as you say be pricey. Also you might give thought to a web-cam or IPcam pointed at you car day and night.
Charles

 

Tell me about it, half of me wants to leave the car at WORK so he won't find it....he's already got my digital camera that my little brother bought me .

Tell me how a guy pretending to be sleeping walks off with a purse in a room of 10 people eating lunch....I don't know either.

 

i'd definitely change the coding on your mini. and probably add an alarm. not sure if changing the coding would prevent him from being able to unlock your door, but it would prevent him from starting your mini.

if not, adding an alarm would certainly help to deter him from even trying to open your door.

unfortunately, oem alarm is ~$500-$600. recoding is ? and a new spare key is ~$150 i believe.

chump change for peace of mind though.

 

I'd bet that your keys are probablyin the trash somewhere. Purse thieves are not car thieves. A purse theif wants cash. I would still have them lock out that key if they can. But it he does come to take your car an it does not start he will be pissed and may vandalize the car. But I dont think he is comming.

 

Checked with the dealer, it will be about $1500 to rekey the entire car. If I just reprogram it, it only prevents him from starting the car (which in my point of view would be cause to vandalize and trash).

Very grumpy today.

 

Change your house keys. That part is relatively cheap compared to switching keys for the MINI and your personal safety will be preserved.

Then just make sure your car insurance is paid up and stop worrying too much about it. I agree that it is most likely that your cash and valuables were stolen but it is not as likely that they will come for your MINI. ..

 

An alarm would probably be the most expensive out. I'm pretty sure the dealer can quickly and easily reprogram your keys so that the stolen one wont work anymore. The last time i was in for service i saw the device they put the keys in to program them. They use a program on the computer to do it pretty effortlessly. As for the charge...I dunno, but probably not bad, and it never hurts to ask, especially when talking about such a large investment as your mini.

 

Stuff like this just psses me off!!!

Just this morning my neighbor, a block down had his FOUR 24" wheels stolen from his brand spankin' new Escalade right in front of his house. They left his truck up on blocks!!! His blocks , from his garden! A cop lives 100 yards away!

I walked my dog last night @ 10 PM and didn't see or hear anything. 7 AM this morning his wife walks out to find a mess.

Geez, whats with people? Keep your friggin hands off o' my stuff or I'll cut your hand off! Now my wife's freaking out. We've got 20" wheels w/ spankin' new rubber on our Dodge truck. She wants to wire them up to 220 volts. We actually hear of one guy (after 2 sets gone) takes his wheels off every night!

 

Bloo,

Thanks for reminding me why I don't want to live in South Florida. To steal a man's Dubs, in the middle of the night, from his driveway. What a pathetic excuse for humanity. When caught he should be forced to drive for the next ten years with 10" Mini panasports on his H2 Hummer.

 

Sorry to hear about your purse snatching.



Best theft deterrant is to keep your car garaged.

 

BTW, sorry I hijacked your thread, louneytoon. I would definitly have the dealer at least re-program your keys (you're probably going to need to buy another key, anyway). As stated above, people who steal purses don't usually go any further, but who knows. Don't take chances. and change the locks on your house, 4 sure.

MGCMAN:

To tell you how pathetic it is down here, 9 years ago I had my DIRTY laundry stolen from the trunk of my MGB in South Beach. The pathetic part was that I later saw my old/torn Levi jeans for sale in a thrift store.............for 20 bucks .

 

Now THAT story is worthy of its own thread!