Our '05 mini was stolen last night, parked on the street in front of our condo in Boston..... Was really looking forward to driving it all summer.

 

Yikes. That's horrible. My police friends told me MINIs are not sought after by car thieves. Maybe the ones on the East Coast are more enlightened or, in Boston, better educated. I hope it is found (might have been taken for a short jaunt--that happens--instead of for parts--which is rare) and intact. Condolences and good luck!

 

how did they get the keys?

 

^

what he said.

 

Don't know how they got keys, because I still have all keys in my house. There was no sign of broken glass either.

It is a real bummer.....

 

hmmmn....that's wierd...you better check with you dealer and find out if it's an inside job...you cannot start a mini with out the keys....you might bring a bat or something with you....

 

I think I spoke with you on the phone at MINI Peabody - I am sorry to hear this happened ... I suspect the car was towed away because the engine computer incorporates an immobilizer that is linked to the key.

 

Yep. I would guess it was towed also. My sister's car has been towed TWICE now from her condo down in DC. First time, her registration expired...this time, inspection sticker. :smile:

I don't know why the condo people even care...seems like if it's on private property, they shouldn't care whether someones sticker has expired. Although I'm sure they get a kickback from the towing company, or some kind of benefit.

Check with your condo and find out who they use to tow cars (if they have their own spots). If not, the city of Boston would be your best bet.

Edit: I think Ian meant towed off by thieves...I just suspect it was towed because maybe something expired or you weren't parked in the right area.

 

well at least it looks like its not stolen, just towed, sorry to hear

 

Interesting Jared - I really hope you have guessed right.

 

Me too...but it's just a guess. Thieves with a towtruck...and they would go for the ~$20-25k car? Our cars stick out like a sore thumb...you would think they'd hit something with a higher value.

It's just a guess...although if they have an '05 then I guess nothing would have expired.

 

I filed a police report this morning at 8:30. The Boston police checked to make sure it wasn't towed. It was parked in a Back Bay resident parking spot in front of our condo.

 

Very sorry to hear about the theft. If someone did tow it, as seems likely, that would indicate a fairly sophisticated thief, no? In any event, not one that's likely to trash your car. I hope it shows up soon, & in good shape...

 

Wow - so sorry about this. Quite the mystery eh? Please keep us updated on the outcome....

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven - burned up)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"

 

Sorry to let everyone know that the chip in the mini's ignition no longer prevents thieves.. I've witnessed it first hand with my friends '04 maxima, which also has a chip. When he got his car back his dad knew exactly how they got in. They use a screw-driver to get into the front driverside window and pulled a wire from under the steering column, which was a positive wire and sparked it on the ignition and fried the chip.. and did their magic on the ignition and totally trashed it and took off.

P.S. they also broke the power steer and lock.. No car is safe. I always use an Autolock on my clutch.. It helps. Three attempts prevented on my past integra!

 

The police called Sunday morning. They found my car in a shopping center parking lot in Seekonk, MA (~55 miles south of Boston). It was only missing for ~ 24 hrs.

I drove down their today to bring her back home. No dents or dings, just some small paint chips on the driver's side door where the used a screwdriver to open it. The door gap when closed looks a little off now. The thieves drove 110 miles on their joy ride. The left their flashlight, screwdriver, snacks, a 50-cent CD and many cigarette ashes in the car.

I had the plastic "valet" key tucked in the leather owners manual in the glove compartment and it is now missing along with some other items. Does anyone know if there is a car alarm out there that will detonate a grenade between the drivers legs if they try to steal my mini?

 

Good news ... hopefully. Maybe a "spa treatment" will help erase the bad memories from your MINI.I like the alarm idea ... nearest I ever heard of is an alarm system that sounds very very loud within the car - too loud to think (assuming such people actually have brains).

 

Ahhhh, that explains the mystery. They used the plastic key to run the car. You should get your car re-key'd... or else they might come back and "borrow" your MINI again.

 

Oh that's great you got you mini back!....I bet you are relieved....I would be all outta sorts....as for the key..that's odd....they are not supposed to be able to run the car with the plastic key....WTF...that sux...now I am parinod...but I have a good friend named 40 cal so if someone wants to enter my house to get the garage open..feel free...heheh....

 

Tuls, you can (yes...contrary to that which MNS tells people that it is ONLY for unlocking the car from the outside) run your car on the plastic key. You can even do so repeated. Just be careful not to break the key in the ignition. Also contrary to MNS saying to use your spare key in the ignition every so often to keep the charge on it's internal battery. The battery is not a rechargable type, it's a Panasonic CR2032. Also MNS says to be sure to use the spare key so it will still work because of the ECU cycles the security codes often and you'll want to keep the key's memory up-to-date. I know I've turned on my MCS with my primary key well over 50 times without using the spare key. The spare key always works, no matter how in-often it gets used.

 

Our MA told us that he had a customer who used the plastic key for 6 months because he had lost his primary key (this was before MINI gave you two keys + the plastic one). It was my understanding from our MA that you can do everything with your plastic key that you can do with your regular key except, of course, unlock the doors remotely.

Glad you got your car back. :smile:

 

That's terrific news! Also nice to hear that it was just taken for a joy ride... I was beginning to worry that that there's a market developing for "aftermarket" MINI's.

Ditto. It'd be really expensive, but your insurance compay might cover it, since the bad guys have one of your keys AND know where you live.

 

Who's MNS? I haven't used my spare (full size) key in at least two years, and I've used my plastic key exactly once (to verify that it worked).

I don't know about anyone else, but I checked last night to make completely sure my plastic key was not in my manual pocket!

 

MNS = Mini North Scottsdale

thanks for clearing that up...that's crazy!!!

 

Yes, I know. I've been getting tired of paragraphing my postings like I normally would do.