I have a serious question about the thefts of MINIs. I know all about the gee whiz key and so hard to steal etc. I'll like to know if anyone has had (Or knows of) anyone who has had their MINI actually stolen?

Plz dont tell me the key is going to stop them because if they want your car, its going on the flat bed and its gone.

So ... whats the real world experience? (which of course ties to is an alarm worth it) ...

 

The only theft I have heard of was Webbs Mule stolen once. They had the key though

 

There have been several thefts posted about here. Mostly bonehead situations resulting in the thieves getting the key. One person in England left in the key in their mailbox attached to their front door, and someone reached in through the mail slot and took it. One person left their MINI key in another vehicle that got broken into.

 

I remember hearing of a UK MINI or two being stolen (or nicked:smile , but not much here. Other cars...maybe, but no MINIs.

 

i'm hoping that one thing will help keep my mini from being stolen. there aren't a lot of them out there. have you ever noticed that the most stolen cars aren't anything interesting? it isn't like you are seeing tons of porshes and the like on the list. you are seeing the cars that are all over the roads. the ones that are easy to chop up and sell because there are so many of that same model out there needing parts.

so, i'm hoping that our cars stick out enough that they just aren't worth stealing for profit. then, that the security of the key is enough to keep away the joyriders.

 

Yes, I forgot about the guy who left is plastic key in the glovebox. Not a good idea.

as to not many in existence, yes that means little chop shop activity. However, I think most stolen cars end up in Mexico or South America now so that doesn't matter much anymore.

Additionally, the fact that Hondas and Toyota Camrys are so high on the theft list is not so much because they are mundane for the chop shops but because there are the best selling cars (besides F150 pickups).

So, ANY THEFTS without the key????

 

I'm sure 4 or 5 strong dudes could pick one up and throw it on a flatbed .

 

If you are wondering if the alarm is worth it, you need to ask yourself if it is worthwhile to protect the items INSIDE your car. I don't think that the theft of your car should be the main reason to get an alarm system.


I have not heard of a single MINI being stolen w/o the key.

 

Stolen MINI's are rare indeed, but lots of us drive them like they are stolen!

 

[QUOTE=ScottinBend]If you are wondering if the alarm is worth it, /QUOTE]

No.... could care less about alarms. I'm originally from Boston and alarms go off all day long and no one cares. Even today, I hear alarms going off in parking lots and people just get mad the cars are making noise.

Alarms had their day in the Sun maybe in the 1960s. Today they are just a means for the dealer to make money.

 

[QUOTE=chows4us]"(which of course ties to is an alarm worth it) "

From this statement I asumed you were asking if an alarm was worth it....

 

Good point. More thinking of GPS or something like that, not an alarm. Sorry about that.

 

Who wants a stolen car back?

 

Depends, if its totaled, obviously note

if its kids on a joy ride, why not?

 

honestly I don't read too much about stolen MINI's. I think maybe once or
twice. On other car boards, (especially Hondas) are stolen/broken into
all the time.

but the cars are owned by kids and hitting night clubs and restaurants in
a not so great area contributes it too.
Nice cars, especially modded, have a time and place for it.

 

well one of the cool things about the mini is when you lock the car you cant unlock it from the inside so if a thife had to break into your car he would have to crash the window and then climb into the car thru the window since the doors wont open, when i purchased my mini in new york, this was before the dealer was open in michigan, they had installed a lojack so if its stolen they can track it and find it, witch honestley i love the fact they can find it anyware.


my freind who is a cop told me of a story of two men who stole a caddy-escalade in detroit and what they didnt realize is with on-star they could be tracked by satalite, so basically when they walked out the door dressed in their best for a night on the town in their stolen escalade they were greeted by the police at gunpoint - man how imbarassing would that be...hehehehehe

 

Yeah, thats the LoJack type thing. Someone wondered why you would want a stolen car back ... to see the face of the dumb thieves .... priceless.

Actually, your point is totally in line with Darwin award winners in "who is the dumbest thief?"

 

I always wondered why people would pay a huge price for an alarm on a car that is very unlikely to be stolen?

Dealers can and will sell anything, but they especially like those extras that have an obsene mark-up----like alarms, paint sealant, uphostery protectorant, extended warranties, etc.

 

peace of mind.

After checking around other places, I haven't actually found a single case of a MINI being stolen without a KEY.

I see a lot of reference where someone DID steal the car but had the KEY but NONE without the key.

If that is really true, then I got to give credit where credit is due and MINI has done a SUPERB job in making the car pretty much unstealble. EXCEPT ... I still get the image of somone pulling up with a fork lift and putting it on a flat bed.

Call me paranoid but I seen that happen in Boston before (not a mini)

 

I remember one story where a guy was working late one evening and his MINI was stolen by via flatbed and the next day they broke into his house and stole his key after looking up the address on the registration.

- Dan

 

Now that I would be fearful off!

 

Someone may eventually find a way to 'hot wire' the MINI, but right now, you either need the key, or you need a tow truck.

Since most stolen cars are chopped, we'll probably see more stolen MINIs when there are enough on the road to create a demand for parts.

 

If you want a simple and very inexpensive way to deter the chop shoppers then get your VIN number acid etched into all of the glass on the car. It costs under $50 US. They can't sell the glass with a VIN# on it and it's too expensive for them to replace the glass.

This won't stop joyriders, but it will make the chop shoppers move on to another vehicle.

MTFBWY,
--Will

 

It all comes down to this: If they want it they will take it.

I have a system that if my MCS is moved I get a phone call and the message will tell me what hundered block, of what street, in what town, direction of travel, and speed. Also, you can look it up on the internet and it will show you on a map where you vehicle is.

Earl

Forgot to mention this happens when the vehicle is moved 1/4 mile, even if on a fladbed. Unit has a backup battery so if they cut the battery cable it still works.

The sooner recovery is made the better.

 

man its funny how we are all tracked, i wonder if a thife could come back at you and say it was an invation of privacy!


ive heard of many theives that hurt themselves breaking into peoples houses then sueing them and winning, makes me hate the system, acually just lawyers that support them !!!