#264834 - 08/09/2005 03:08
WRX broken into... sorta
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
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Kelly and I went out to eat at Bok Choy Garden just now. When we left, I opened my car door and there was some stuff on my seat, which I though Kelly had put on it before I'd gotten in, until I looked up and noticed my rear-view mirror was at a 45 degree angle, and Kelly wasn't even in the car yet. I was super confused... did someone break in??? The windows were all still in tact. WTF.
Then I saw a rip in the headliner where the cable for my radar detector was tucked in. Somehow, someone got in my locked car, and ripped the radar detector out of the roof... breaking a phone cable in half which isn't easy to do. After I realized that I looked around, and the back seat was folded forward and my kite buggy and miscellaneous stuff was all askew. They rifled through everything, emptying my glove box and center console, and even opened my first aid kit for some reason, but took nothing else. My skateboard was still there, both amps, subwoofer, gauges, tool kit, radar detector remote display, all there. And there is no sign of forced entry that I could see. Just a ripped roof liner. Did I mention WTF?
So now I'm all paranoid that they took the V1, got spooked and are coming back for the rest of it. I think I'm going to setup my iSight with my Powerbook attached to look out the window and do frame captures all night just in case since my car's parked right outside. I wanna know how the F they got in. Not that it would be super hard to do, but there's not even a scratch on the window frame. I don't get it. And why just take the radar when there was way more valuable stuff laying around. Good thing I always bring my GPS and empeg inside... not that they would have taken them apparently.
Now I don't know what to do about the insurance... would they even replace a radar detector??? Hah. The roof rip sucks though, and I'm freaked it'll happen again if it was that easy. Damnit I can't even afford my deductible at this point. At least they didn't bust a window, the timing it that had happened couldn't have been worse.
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#264835 - 08/09/2005 03:34
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: loren]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31597
Loc: Seattle, WA
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Perhaps you left a door unlocked without realizing it?
Another possibility is that they jimmied one of the door locks.
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#264836 - 08/09/2005 03:45
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: tfabris]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
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Quote:
Perhaps you left a door unlocked without realizing it?
Possible but highly unlikely. I am super paranoid about it... to the point where I press the button on the remote automatically when I get out of the car... then AGAIN as I walk away to make sure I hear the beep and see the lights flash every time without fail.
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#264837 - 08/09/2005 08:18
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: loren]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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You have had miserable luck with this kind of thing. I haven't been keeping count - what are you up to??? In any case, sorry to hear about it.
The way you describe it, it almost sounds like they were looking fro something specific. Or for pricy / resellable electronics.
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs
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#264838 - 08/09/2005 08:55
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: loren]
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addict
Registered: 08/08/2001
Posts: 452
Loc: NZ
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feel for you my fellow Subaru owner..
Do you have an aftermarket alarm? If so was the alarm set off?
Or do you just use the factory remote door locking?
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#264839 - 08/09/2005 09:13
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: JaBZ]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Hmmm... Rereading this. Could they have popped the trunk and climbed in through a back seat passthrough and back out? That would explain the folded down rear seat, the stuff in back being askew and the way the headliner was ripped. Also, popping a trunk with a remote is probably a lot easier to do than the regular locks.
Of course, my natural paranoia makes me wonder if they were looking for something specific. Maybe not an empeg, but something smaller. The way the thief searched everything makes me wonder if it (non-humans do not rate proper gendered pronouns) was searching... That bothers me more than a smash and grab would - it implies intent and thought, usually characters that it lacks.
Again, paranoia, but did you keep a spare key or remote garage door opener in the car? A tiny breakin like this, small electronic theft and searching... Is your registration and insurance card in the car with your address printed on it? I can imagine (not sure if it would happen) a thief breaking into a car at a restaurant (where they know the driver will be away for a while) stealing a garage door opener or spare key, getting the address from the registration and then going in search of bigger game... Paranoia...
Edit: fixed typos and increased paranoia level.
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs
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#264840 - 08/09/2005 14:28
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: loren]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 06/04/2005
Posts: 2026
Loc: Seattle transplant
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Oh, man- that is weird!
I guess I'm glad that they didn't take more stuff and screw up the car more than they did, but, hey, there's a definite feeling of being violated.
Do you have an alarm system in the car? Maybe it's time for one of those if you don't have it already. Hope you don't live near Jon's lawyer neighbor who keys cars, though.
Sounds like entrance through the rear lid (as suggested above)- any marks around there?
Bad timing is right- when are you headed to New Orleans?
_________________________
10101311 (20GB- backup empeg)
10101466 (2x60GB, Eutronix/GreenLights Blue) (Stolen!)
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#264841 - 08/09/2005 14:29
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: loren]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 06/10/1999
Posts: 2591
Loc: Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
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Loren,
FWIW, I was in a supermarket parking lot and, when I unlocked my car, it unlocked/disarmed an older Subaru parked next to me. I waited for the woman to come out so I could explain.
So if you have the factory security system....
_________________________
Jim
'Tis the exceptional fellow who lies awake at night thinking of his successes.
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#264842 - 08/09/2005 14:44
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: jimhogan]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 12/02/2002
Posts: 2298
Loc: Berkeley, California
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Quote:
So if you have the factory security system....
The other thing that's known to happen is having a remote added to your car when you leave it somewhere for service. They program in the remote to all the cars that look nice, write down their addresses and either sell it or go looking themselves. This is why I always give auto shops my parents' address a hundred miles away.
AT CES one year there was a company marketing an alarm that chirped differently for a few days after a new remote was programmed in. Seemed like a good innovation, but I havn't seen anything about it since. However, I havn't bought an alarm since so maybe it's a standard feature.
Why they behaved as they did is certainly a mystery. I'd definitly be afraid they'd come back.
Matthew
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#264843 - 08/09/2005 15:23
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: pgrzelak]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
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Quote:
You have had miserable luck with this kind of thing. I haven't been keeping count - what are you up to???
Tell me about it. I've lost count.
Quote:
Do you have an aftermarket alarm? If so was the alarm set off?
Or do you just use the factory remote door locking?
No aftermarket alarm, just stock door locking. I had a super nice alarm on my Civic when it was stolen, so I didn't bother putting on in this car since they are useless if someone knows what they are doing.
Quote:
Hmmm... Rereading this. Could they have popped the trunk and climbed in through a back seat passthrough and back out?
Again, paranoia, but did you keep a spare key or remote garage door opener in the car? A tiny breakin like this, small electronic theft and searching... Is your registration and insurance card in the car with your address printed on it?
No, I have a wagon, and there's no keyhole on the hatch. Not to mention, with my kitebuggy back there there's no way they could have climbed over even if that was the point of entry. I don't have a garage door opener or spare key, so that's not it. As for the insurance card and address, yes they are in there but that package was the one thing they didn't touch in the glove box. Wouldn't matter much anyhow since I live in an apt. building with a huge front gate.
Quote:
I guess I'm glad that they didn't take more stuff and screw up the car more than they did, but, hey, there's a definite feeling of being violated.
Bad timing is right- when are you headed to New Orleans?
I half wish they had taken more, this is just creepy and annoying insurance wise, at least it would have felt like my deductible was worth it. Leaving for NO tomorrow at noon.
Quote:
FWIW, I was in a supermarket parking lot and, when I unlocked my car, it unlocked/disarmed an older Subaru parked next to me. I waited for the woman to come out so I could explain.
That's creepy. I'm starting to think something like that is the case... The doors were even locked when I found it!
Quote:
The other thing that's known to happen is having a remote added to your car when you leave it somewhere for service. They program in the remote to all the cars that look nice, write down their addresses and either sell it or go looking themselves. This is why I always give auto shops my parents' address a hundred miles away
This is the other thing i'm wondering about. I got my car serviced recently at a new satellite office here in SF of a major dealer that is located in South SF. And I left my detector in the car then.
UGH. My big dilemma is whether to report this to insurance agency or not. My deductible is $250 which is less than the cost of a new V1, and my headliner is pretty screwed up. Just don't know if they'll like hearing I have a radar detector... What do you guys think?
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#264844 - 08/09/2005 15:29
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: loren]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Given that I am in NJ, the state with one of (if not) the worst auto insurance statistics in the US, I would say do not report it. The hassle and amount you get over the deductable would not be worth the trouble if they raise your rates for future coverage or drop you.
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs
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#264845 - 08/09/2005 16:06
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: jimhogan]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
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Quote:
Loren,
FWIW, I was in a supermarket parking lot and, when I unlocked my car, it unlocked/disarmed an older Subaru parked next to me. I waited for the woman to come out so I could explain.
So if you have the factory security system....
I used to have little 'party trick' which involved the security system on my dad's car.
When I was at school I had a Casio remote control watch, it looked like a calculator watch but it had the little red emitter window on top, amongst the usual codes I had stored in it (school tv's, half of dixon's window display) I managed to learn the ir codes to unlock my dads old rover 800.
The key fob had a little ir led on it, so one day I just put the watch in learn mode, pressed the button on the fob and hey presto. I always wondered if it would be possible to walk past another rover owner as they unlocked their car and 'sniff' the code by holding my watch up. Never managed it though, not through lack of trying.
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Cheers,
Andy M
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#264846 - 08/09/2005 17:13
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: pgrzelak]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
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Reported it anyhow... USAA is good about not raising rates and stuff so I figured what the hell. They won't cover replacing the radar, not surprised there. F U C K. So can't afford to replace it right now. Ah well, guess I'll have to slow down a bit eh?
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#264847 - 08/09/2005 18:46
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: jimhogan]
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veteran
Registered: 25/04/2000
Posts: 1525
Loc: Arizona
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A few years ago (like 10 or something I guess), at school one of my friend's gave me her car keys and asked me to get something out of her trunk. She had a white Toyota Corolla. So I went to the parking lot, and found what I thought was her car. The key unlocked the trunk, so I looked in it and quickly realized it wasn't her car (aftermarket stereo equipment, etc).
Scary.
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#264848 - 09/09/2005 00:01
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: Tim]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
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I did the same thing with my horribly worn out Ford key once. Not intentional, of course. Not that I'd want to nick <sp?> a mid 90's Escort wagon anyway. Well, actually......
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#264849 - 09/09/2005 00:17
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: FireFox31]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Almost any key for a classic Saab 900 will start another car. It seems to be the actual lock cylinders wear before the keys do though. My friend starts his 900 with a screwdriver since losing his key.
_________________________
-Rob Riccardelli
80GB 16MB MK2 090000736
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#264850 - 09/09/2005 13:32
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: loren]
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old hand
Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
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Quote:
Reported it anyhow... USAA is good about not raising rates and stuff so I figured what the hell. They won't cover replacing the radar, not surprised there. F U C K. So can't afford to replace it right now. Ah well, guess I'll have to slow down a bit eh?
Ugh, that all sucks man. You sure do have some crappy luck with car stuff! I wish I hadn't sold my V1 not long ago, I could have sold it to you cheap....of course I'm glad I don't have mine anymore, I got way more tickets with it then without it. I realized I didn't have to drive everywhere at 95mph anymore. :-)
So the wagon doesn't have a lock on the hatch? Weird. My trunk was broken into back in March and they stole my sub and amps. As far as I could tell they just used a screwdriver on the lock.
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//matt
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#264851 - 09/09/2005 14:15
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: ithoughti]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
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Quote:
Ugh, that all sucks man. You sure do have some crappy luck with car stuff! I wish I hadn't sold my V1 not long ago, I could have sold it to you cheap....of course I'm glad I don't have mine anymore, I got way more tickets with it then without it. I realized I didn't have to drive everywhere at 95mph anymore. :-)
So the wagon doesn't have a lock on the hatch? Weird. My trunk was broken into back in March and they stole my sub and amps. As far as I could tell they just used a screwdriver on the lock.
Dang! Yeah, it didn't make me go any faster, I drive spiritedly anyway... generally just with the flow of traffic in the Bay Area which is always above speed limit if it's not crawling.
The '04's got rid of the key lock in the hatch. The '03's and below had one if I'm not mistaken.
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#264852 - 09/09/2005 17:57
Re: WRX broken into... sorta
[Re: ithoughti]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 09/08/2000
Posts: 2091
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Helps with the security a bit - nothing to jemmy on the boot. You need to unlock the car to get the boot open on my '00 Wagon. There is a handle, but no external lock.
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MkIIa, blue lit buttons, memory upgrade, 1Tb in Subaru Forester STi
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