A gang of four thieves struck in Birmingham stealing a high-performance car off a driveway. But the owner had the last laugh after the vehicle’s stealth security kicked in and stopped them in their tracks.
The theft took place at an address off Walmley Ash Road in Sutton Coldfield in the early hours of April 1, when four hooded and balaclava-wearing car criminals used a relay device to steal a high-spec Honda off a drive. But unbeknown to them the owner had fitted additional security which monitored and tracked the car and also had an anti-hijack feature meaning they did not get far.
The owner, who asked not to be named, admitted he had been careless as he had not locked the car or put a steering wheel lock on, which he owned. But was thankful he forked out for additional measures so he could get his ‘pride and joy’ back.
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The 52-year-old said: “I want to highlight this and alert other drivers. I went to Asda which is about a mile away last Thursday (March 31) and came back and didn’t lock the car as I was distracted by my wife and kids.
“By not locking it I didn’t activate the alarm and immobiliser. I also have a Disklok steering wheel lock and that was in the footwell too.
“Four hooded, balaclava and gloved men presented themselves on to my property on April 1, April Fool’s Day at 12.30am and amplified the signal from my fob. And within 30 seconds the car was gone. A relay theft, aided and abetted by me. Lots of carelessness by me helped make their task easier.”
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The car owner said he was asleep at the time and noticed the car was gone the next morning. He said: “I woke up in the morning and stood on the drive and something clicked that something wasn’t right and the car wasn’t there.
“But with the extra security I could see that the car was less than a mile away. I had also captured them stealing the car on video.
“Where the car was eventually left, when the shadow security kicked in, it was off Kingsbury Road near the Castle Vale estate, around 30 seconds away.”
He continued: “I drove around and called the police en route and told them everything that had happened. When I arrived they said there’s no support and no units available. Are you happy to recover the car yourself? Which I did at around 11am.
“I couldn’t get in the car the driver’s side which either means the driver was short or the seat was pulled forward for another reason. The car wasn’t damaged.
“But I gave myself a big slap around the head. Make sure your car is locked and extra security fitted and working. And put your keys in a faraday pouch. You must use security. I was complacent but I was savvy enough to get additional security. The £1,000 additional security has paid for itself. Two days later West Midlands Police has closed the case.
“I have got a number of cameras and footage but they have got no fingerprints or DNA. We also believe a spotter came in to my road and saw the car.”
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A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We received a report of a car being stolen from of Walmley Ash Road, overnight between 31 March and 1 April. The Honda has since been recovered.
“Anyone with information can contact us via Live Chat on our website, or by calling 101, and quote 20/346685/22.”
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