Advice: What to Do after an Attempted Break-in into My Car

Hello All

I need a little help. I drive a Mazda CX5 and last night I parked it on my nature strip, due to lack of parking available in my drive way. I guess some time in the night someone thought it would be a good idea to break into my car. Seriously I think it was too hot last night for that bullsh*t but someone else thought otherwise. So while I struggled to find the equilibrium between the air-con, sleeping just a sheet and the heat. Someone else struggle to break into my car. All they have manage is to damage the lock barrel and make me feel super uneasy. I’ve never had this happen and I’m unsure who do I call or what do now. The car is keyless entry its only a 2016 CX5, but the damaged lock barrel makes me concerned.

Any advice will be helpful thanks

Comments

  • install a dashcam/discreet camera

    unless you want to camp out at night with a baseball bat..which is what I'd do lol

    • does the camera turn off after the car turns off?

      • Dash cameras won't have enough juice to last the night, you'll need to hardwire the thing to the car battery. Otherwise if only temporary, plug into a big USB powerbank.

  • is it just the metal of the lock that is damaged?

    if so, and because it is a keyless entry vehicle, easy option - just cover it up. e.g. get a button or same size plastic disc. paint it the same colour as the door handle and then glue it in place covering the metal lock.

    done.

    • +20

      metal and the inside. its looks like someone violated my key hole.

      • +1

        Bahaha. Stop making this more dirty than it needs to be.

      • Just around your key hole or was there penetration?

        • You think it was just a rim job?

  • +2

    1) Report it to the police. Not via 000, call the local station. They keep stats on crime and this counts, and it's important to elt them know about attempted break ins. They may want a statement from you etc.

    2) If you want it fixed, call the dealer and see how much it is to fix. If quite expensive, you could fix under insurance but hopefully it's only a couple hundred so you can avoid insurance.

    3) If you plan on keeping the car for a long time and don;t want it fixed, then don't.

  • Seriously I think it was too hot

    Uhuh, the freaks come out.

    Do you own a fabric/plastic car cover?

    Maybe it's too inconvenient to put on but it will stop people looking in and whilst it won't stop a determined attacker it may cause opportunist attackers to move on to the next easier looking target since with your car they need to either cut or remove the cover which means seconds spent doing something that looks suspicious which is a challenge that the next victim doesn't present.

  • It would just be a retard teen or junkie with a screwdriver. A pro would have taken stuff inside already using a ninja rock,or the car would have been gone. Report to local police station. They may patrol your area more at night if activity has been increasing

  • +5
    1. Give thanks nothing was actually stolen.
    2. Check insurance policy is still current
    3. Notify police.
    4. Repair damage.
    5. Get on with life.
  • As I think has been said - it was probably just a random junkie wandering by and thinking they've give it a go.
    Just bad luck. So no need to be any more concerned that you were before.
    That said - try to park in a high visibility spot if possible.
    In my case when I locked the car they would just smash the back window. I never kept anything valuable in the car so it just became easier to leave the car unlocked.

    • +1

      Really? I would be afraid said junkie would squat in my car if I left it unlocked!

      • I've always wanted the opportunity to confront the (profanity) who broke my window so that might not be a bad thing.
        Now, where's my cricket bat?

  • CCTV covering the front of your house including the nature strips

    • Or even cheaper, just a sign saying there is CCTV. In reality CCTV only helps after the fact, and is also easily defeated by being quick and wearing a hoodie.

  • GPS tracker in the car!

  • Yeah, unfortunately car damage is a right of passage in some areas. In our time we've had someone walked over one car's roof, fortunately it popped back out again, our side windows smashed in by a bunch of thugs that did the entire street and the topper was when one car was stolen. It was comprehensively insured and it was a Camira so we actually came out on top with that one. It gets you pissed at the time, but you get over it. I agree with the others tell the cops and work out whether it is worth getting insurance involved. If you hear something in the night then do not try to confront anyone, call the cops and try to get pictures from a distance, if you can. There are some serious nutjobs out there at the moment.

  • -1

    Write a big ol note and stick it in your window, 'after you tried to break in I removed all of my valuables'

    • +1

      That will just antagonise some muppet who will break your windows just to show who's boss.

  • Does no one fit immobilisers any more,
    I realise it won't stop break-ins for loose change,
    but they do come with a little red blinky
    , and your insurer should give a bit of a discount?

    • hardly any point, most cars have immobilisers included in the elcetrickery systems. Some come with an alarm too (which is possibly what you meant anyway)

      • I meant immobiliser, so no one can drive it away
        I have one, no alarm but they don't know that
        It may be hardly any point if your car is overinsured
        But I don't want my 4b and all the aftermarket parts being stolen and burnt out

        • Do you mean like a wheel clamp? As I said, most modern cars with remote keys have a chip in the key that allows the car to start. Otherwise it won't start. I tried with a busted key in our 2001 RAV4, the plastic bit with the chip had broken off and the car wouldn't start until I held the plastic bit next to the ignition barrel. It is an immobiliser, won't start without the chip present.

  • Was there visible 'stuff' like money or other desirable goodies lying around in the car? If so, perps often break in to cars to relieve you of such items without stealing the car.

  • Install a BFD Security System under the car :-)

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