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@vfrmedia we're in the throes of a similar car stealing racket, getting those keyless ones. Thank god my old fellers are a PITA to steal.

@vwdasher I keep my 10 year old VW Polo for this very reason - its got /just enough tech/ (infotainment and Bluetooth that mostly works), DSG 'box and slightly more power than many other "normal" Polos (essentially an R-line without the silly bling/badges) - I admit I've been tempted by a Polo or Golf GTI, but I don't want keyless start and these cars attract the wrong kind of attention in an increasingly divided and unequal society (folk have even been violently robbed for them)

@vfrmedia I think owning a manual car also foils a lot of thieves who only know how to drive an auto. My old boys have carbs that need priming as well, they don't just fire up and off you go.

We've had home invasions happen here, where these thugs bust in and hurt people for the keys. At least this latest lot of theft isn't hurting people. One good thing.

@vwdasher ironically its the opposite here - unless its an obvious hot hatch thieves don't want a smaller car with an auto 'box - they assume it belongs to a senior (who *will* go straight to the cops) or its a high mileage small car belonging to a social care worker from the Commonwealth, with little black market value.

They tend to go for premium SUVs instead (and if the thieves are opportunists who aren't into cars they quite often crash them, not being used to driving autos!)

@vfrmedia the current thing is stealing Commodores. They want fast cars to commit more crimes. And they're very easy to break into.

https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/thieves-keep-stealing-holden-commodores-heres-how-and-why-they-do-it/

Audi/Porsche/expensive brands also a favourite to steal to send overseas/chop shops. Bloody scumbags.

@vwdasher one problem we have here is thieves who *are* interested in cars who stalk meets, Instagram/FB etc targeting enthusiasts out of envy/spite as well as stealing cars/parts to order - its why I've never really got into the modified car scene (I live on the border of Suffolk and Essex!)

If you look at the Police photos of the original report that chop shop is surprisingly clean and tidy, with a lot of nice tools (Milwaukee etc), there's links with "back street" repair garages..

@vfrmedia @vwdasher interesting how this differs globally... Over here there are mainly professionals from eastern europe who target expensive cars in small cities and villages near the Autobahn and they just steal specific parts at 3 AM right from the driveway. They are nice enough to intentionally break a window (like the small triangle between door and A pillar) so the insurance will pay. Thats my limited knowledge acc. to a cop last time this happened to an ex-neighbour.

@stereo4x4 @vfrmedia funny how it varies so around the world. One pack of morons recently robbed a delivery yard of cars fresh off the boat. Unless they want to rebirth them all or chop them for parts, they'd be struggling to sell them as is. Non registered and very hot.