My car was stolen last night

[ano0oj]

Originally Posted by Bimmers4life

Sorry to sound so ignorant but how in the world do you steal a car like this unless the key is left in the car and they just drive off with it? Is it that easy to steal?

At this level of thievery, these guys were probably in and out in 3-4 minutes.

[jasnh]

Originally Posted by megacondenser

Couple big car theft rings in this town. Russian, Nigerian. They bust a lot of the ring members every couple years (police major crime units here are really good, I've come to learn) but the local courts don't care about some "rich" dude losing his BMW, frankly. They plead out of jail time or just get deported, then start right back up, or get replaced.

The first theft they came in after an ice storm knocked out power in a big chunk of the city and I took my family out for an hour to get warm. Came home to a ransacked house and empty garage. My 991 and S4. Cops were sure they'd been watching the house waiting for their chance.

The Nigerian ring had people in the receiving autoyard on the east coast who copied key fobs, people at the DMV and the dealer. They knew what was coming in, where it was going and customer delivery dates. Already had "buyers" lined up. They'd stroll up to the house and drive it off, or come in (through double or French doors mostly) steal keys left out in and just drive cars off.

My M3 they took out of the driveway first night I had it home, they were waiting for it, cops figured. Found an exploit in my basement door (now fixed obv), found the fob in a jacket pocket in a closet 12 feet from my sleeping kids. Grabbed my wife's purse on the way out and got her 2015 Cayenne as a bonus. I stupidly ran down when I heard the M3 start up, watched the filth drive it away over the curb. Hit three other houses on my street that night same way. BMW tracking wasn't really helpful. I have security video of them standing on my front steps flipping off the cameras. My wife didn't sleep for a year. Window bars, window film and exterior steel gates helped, and a German Shepherd .

Interpol actually found one of my cars in Lithuania . They go out intact in shipping crates to "buyers" overseas, mostly through the port of Montreal which is organized-crime controlled in significant part.

Anyway, sorry to threadjack. To the OP, I REALLY hope you are doing ok. It's bullshit what happened. Your story just recalled the bad feelings.

Damn dude....I think I’d move after all of that...stay safe

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by ACZakka325i

Sorry to hear however I have little confidence in BMW tracking. My father had his 2017 7series stolen out of drive way (keys in car, yes I know...) but tracking said the car was in Queens but video footage showed it going over the GW bridge. For those that don't know, those are opposite directions from CT.

It might be chopped by now. Sorry to say.

For someone that planned this type of crime, I would *think* that first thing they would do when out of the snatch zone would be to disconnect the battery

Likewise, knowing that BMW’s operate on the ATT System, very easy to find cell blockers and GPS blockers on the web that would take it the car’s communication ability from the moment they smashed the window.

[Kief]

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by nujabes24

Yeah i am, and if you guys the live in the Hudson area just keep your eyes on your vehicles man. This how this nonsense starts when it comes to stealing high performance cars. Trust me this is just the beginning hopefully they can stop it before it gets worse

They wanted your car because it is so rare. It is the only 2014 M4 in captivity Sorry it got stolen - I know how I would feel.

[nujabes24]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

They wanted your car because it is so rare. It is the only 2014 M4 in captivity Sorry it got stolen - I know how I would feel.

Lol that’s a good one. It’s a dinosaur compared to the new ones.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by nujabes24

Lol that’s a good one. It’s a dinosaur compared to the new ones.

I think he was referring to the fact there was no MY14 in the U.S.

(Sorry about the theft.)

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by nujabes24

Lol that’s a good one. It’s a dinosaur compared to the new ones.

My point was that there were NO 2014 M4 - even though they were built in 2014 (like mine) all original M4 were designated as 2015. Check your paperwork

[nujabes24]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

I think he was referring to the fact there was no MY14 in the U.S.

(Sorry about the theft.)

Yeah my bad. I’m Just blah and upset man

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

My point was that there were NO 2014 M4 - even though they were built in 2014 (like mine) all original M4 were designated as 2015. Check your paperwork

He's from Jersey, cut him some slack

[nujabes24]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

My point was that there were NO 2014 M4 - even though they were built in 2014 (like mine) all original M4 were designated as 2015. Check your paperwork

Yeah i know, i wrote that when i got it November 2014. My bad.

[zamboni]

Originally Posted by nujabes24

It’s not hard we deal with these a lot. Break the window release the brakes use a fast hook tow truck and it’s gone even with the alarm. It’s quick man.

Sorry to hear but it's weird the alarm not even go off and hopefully they will not block the incoming signal so BMW can't trace the car location. Keep us posted.

[ItsGary]

Originally Posted by zamboni

Sorry to hear but it's weird the alarm not even go off and hopefully they will not block the incoming signal so BMW can't trace the car location. Keep us posted.

Car Alarm systems are mess. They don't work when they need to but work when they shouldn't. Like I opened my door once and my alarm went off

[Falafel Combo]

Sucks OP!! Sorry to hear about that!!!

So I guess I’m the only one who fantasizes about my car being stolen, I get a big insurance check and buy a new one??? Maybe with a comp pack or DCT for a change?

[Bimmers4life]

Originally Posted by alex2364

Have you ever heard of a tow truck? You don't even need to break in.

You right. I’m sorry I was thinking of my situation where my M3 stays in a locked garage. I was also thinking how will one get the car started and drive away. Obviously if you just leave it out in the open yeah any flatbed truck will just back up to it and drag it on. Off they go.
I was thinking more in terms of getting the car started somehow and driving off.
There are ways and devices created that can pull the signal from the remote inside the house and with another device near the vehicle transmit the signal and get it unlocked and started.

[GrussGott]

Sorry to hear OP - if the thieves are good they'll pull the battery and the car will be gone. When something like this happens you do feel shitty (been there) ... but also wonder if you want it back.

This doesn't help you of course ... I've seen a few interesting "garage" apps that use BMW Connected (I think) and Glympse to monitor the location of the car when you think it should be stationary and then send a text if it moves.

You can also do this with an old iphone, the new dashcams, and with luggage trackers.

Maybe there is, but AFAIK there's no easy purpose-built way to do it for cars ...

Maybe we should all research this a bit ...

[Rh6363]

Dam that sucks. How do you deter or prevent some crap like this. I remember few years back in NYC and nj there was a group that was picking up motorcycles every second then finally got caught and the theft cut down but still happens. Just got my first M, I don't wanna move it now out of my garage in my building.

[nicknaz]

Wow. OP and megacondenser and others, I'm sorry to hear about this.

The home invasion aspects are what are most frightening to me. "Luckily" it's just cars stolen and no one was harmed

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

You can also do this with an old iphone, the new dashcams, and with luggage trackers.

Maybe there is, but AFAIK there's no easy purpose-built way to do it for cars ...

Maybe we should all research this a bit ...

I used an old iPhone, hardwired and hidden in the car on a wireless network that works (Verizon) .

It is primarily used as a Mobile hotspot in the car, with ringer turned off etc.

If car is stolen, even with car battery cut, internal battery takes over....and with Verizon, it has best chance of connecting inside buildings or cargo crate.

Even if they do find phone and turn it off (or smash it), find my iPhone is set to send last known location.

[snareman]

Wow, sorry to hear this. What does BMW assist say when you talked to them about locating it?

[boss2k]

So sorry to hear this OP? Just thinking aloud would Lojack helped in locating faster ?

[Brasko]

Originally Posted by snareman

Wow, sorry to hear this. What does BMW assist say when you talked to them about locating it?

That's what I was wondering. I would think you could call them, report it stolen and they would track it down via GPS provided the battery hasn't been removed or the vehicle dismantled.

Either way, sorry to hear about your loss. It's a real bummer and the reason why I had installed Lo-Jack on my 2003 Evo 8. Makes Best of luck with the recovery!