*sigh* Wife came home and the place was trashed. Luckily we don't have TOO much stuff worth taking but they got our TV, laptops, cameras, watches, jewelry, etc. Thankfully my wife is ok after entering and running back out to call the cops. Both of us are on edge now, though, that's for sure.

Anyway, I am concerned about the missing Cooper key though. called the dealer. It's $950 for a new ignition and new keys. *sigh* Or it's $55 to deactivate the key that was stolen, BUT, they can still get into the car. It just won't start. That doesn't help me too much, that's for sure. They could still hotwire. I don't know how easy the Cooper is to steal though. I don't necessarily have $950 I can shell out now either.

So what's the solution? Deactivate and get a "Club"? Suck it up and pay the $950? I don't think an alarm woudl do anything because if you have the key to get in, it'll just deactivate, no?

Ugh, so stressed and upset right now. Any help would be great. Thanks!

 

Sorry to hear that ... sad At least your wife is OK

If it were me, and I wanted to keep the car, I'd get a new ignition.

However, if they can open the car, they can also steal whatever is in it and vandalize it ... but doubtful they can hotwire it. I dont think its that simple and the number of stolen MINIs is pretty small.

For piece of mind, I would suck it up and get a new ignition ... but that is just me.

 

You might talk to your insurance. The auto coverage will most likely not do anything. They are dumb that way. They will wait for the car to be broken into, or stolen before they will pay. Your home owner policy might be a different story. I would give them a call.

 

If you have home or renter's insurance, give your provider a call.

 

Don't bother with homeowner's insurance. You'll find in your policy's "Property Not Covered" section that motor vehicles and their equipment/accessories are not covered. I've been adjusting claims for a long time now, trust me, you'll just get a denied claim.

Personally, I would just have them deactivate the key and don't keep any valuables in the car. They can't steal it by hotwiring it if the key is deactivated. The only thing they could do to steal it is get into it, put it in neutral and trailer it. And believe me, most of the people doing home break-ins aren't sophisticated enough to pull that one off.

 

Every policy is different. So check yours, Duck, before you write that path off. Also, if you have a good relationship with your agent they might step up even if the policy doesn't cover it. $950 isn't alot for an insurance claim.

 

Homeowners insurance policies actually don't differ alot. Most are written using standardized language from a company called ISO. So an HO-3 policy written by All-State is going to be pretty much identical to an HO-3 written by State Farm. There may be different endorsements, but I don't think companies are going to endorse in coverage for motor vehicles or their equipment. By all means, though, check your policy, that is very good advice.

Also, with all due respect, the fact that $950 isn't alot for a claim is all the more reason not to file one. Increased premium can result (even non-renewal in extreme cases) along with the fact that the $950 amount will be reduced by any applicable deductible.

Not trying to start a flame war, just trying to help.

 

Best find a way to get the new ignition. If the crook(s) return to try and take the Mini, and find the key will not start the car, they will, in all likelihood, completely trash the inside of the car just to **** you off.

I had no idea the Mini key would be so expensive though. And my Wife is a key-losing lady. Oh boy, this is going to be fun.

 

I agree, but policies still CAN differ and it would be foolish to just assume your policy was identical to JoBlo's, know what I mean?

And I also agree $950 isn't alot and not worth filing a claim over. BUT if they have a policy, they have the TVs, Jewelry, Cameras, etc to file a claim on...which, along with the ignition, may make it worth filing a claim on. My State Farm Agent backed me up and went beyond policy limitations on several occasions and its the main reason why I am still with State Farm even though I left my agent when I moved.

No flame wars. I don't have a fire retardent suit.

 

Good point that he's already obviously claiming the laptops, etc, may as well throw the car stuff on there and make them kick it back. You never know! If you catch an adjuster busy enough, it may slide through!

 

They wouldn't be able to start the car with or without a new ignition, if the key is deactivated. My feeling is, they took the key in case they came across the MINI on the way out. Not likely they would come back looking for it. There are tons of security cameras too small to be seen. I would think it would be logical to believe they stand a good chance of getting caught. I would just deactivate the key and not keep valuables in the car. If they do break in, then your auto insurance would cover whatever damage they do. Realistically, the only way to avoid the possibility that your car would be broken into is to sell it.

 

If he spends the $950 for a new ignition ... problem solved. no need to sell it.

 

Except the thief wouldn't know that until he broke into the car. And, since already there, is likely to take stuff and/or damage the car. Note I did say broken into, not stolen.

 

Assuming your talking the same thief, he'll try the key and it won't work (well in both scenarios). But with a new ignition, the thief will have to literally break in ...

In the second scenario, he just opens the door, tries to start the car and nothing happens (again in both scenarios) ... so I'm guessing he's more likely to vandalize the interior.

I'm guessing

 

Unless the locks are changed, too, there would be no difference between getting a new ignition and deprogramming the key. In either case, he could get in with the "emergency key" in the fob. Either way, he'd get in and not be able to start the car.

 

have the door locks re-keyed ?
then you have 2 keys - Door keys / Ignition Keys

cheaper than ignition, Not as drastic as selling
Just a minor inconvenience, to keep it safe.

 

Very sorry about your loss.

Just playing devil's advocate, but isn't the likelihood of the criminal returning to the scene of the crime statistically small? I mean, a thief should realize that security has probably been stepped up in response to their actions. So aren't they better off violating someone else's peace of mind instead of risking being caught in a location that has recently had security notched up? I am certainly not suggesting you do nothing, but just something to think about.