[JitP]

Woke up yesterday morning to find my pride and joy stolen from our drive way! Number Plate PJ17 KAY - Black 2017 Mercedes Benz GLC43 AMG Coupe. We have both keys, so these were high tech theives using a laptop held up to the house to clone/mimic keyless keys from inside we believe.

We saw a guy outside for 4 days scoping the place - white male about 5"6/8, beard and pony tail with a blue pram, blue puffer jacket, smoking a cigarette. Pretty sure there was no baby in that pram! We didn't question this as he had a pram and thought he was having a cheeky cigarette away from his partner.

These new keyless cars are very easy to steal so make sure you get a Faraday Pouch/Box for your keys which blocks the signal making is difficult/impossible to clone the key from outside.

Keep a look out peeps! Gutted as we only had it 4 months!!!

 

[Tony Mac]

You or MB UK should be able to track the car using the App?

 

[JitP]

Hi Tony,

The app has been disabled - showing it is around the corner to my house which is isnt.

 

[Toobad]

So sorry to hear your terrible news, JitP. I guess if the pond life are clever enough to remotely clone the key, they will have immediately disabled the car's Sim Card as well. No doubt all the Police are prepared to do is issue an Incident Number so you can pursue a claim via your insurers. Many policies offer a replacement new car if the stolen vehicle is less than 12 months old. I think the caveat is that you have a finite time period in which to source another car in your exact specification. With the GLC the long lead time usually precludes ordering one from scratch so you will have to find something acceptable which already has a production slot allocated and is just going into dealer stock.

I hope you will keep this thread updated with developments, I'm sure every single one of us here is hoping and praying for a happy ending to your misfortune.

 

[AndrewB]

That's making me think about having a tracker fitted when my 43 eventually arrives . Has anyone on here had a tracker fitted ?

 

[JitP]

Thanks Toobad for your kind words. I am absolutely gutted. We shall see what the insurance want to do - they do have new for new on the cover but not sure that applies for PCP deals. Otherwise going to be quite a few grand out of pocket!

Police have said it is on the system, but there isn't much they can do. As we had a private plate, the thieves are likely to swap them straight away so going to be difficult to track. I'm pretty sure that it's already left the country the same night they stole it as it is a high-end motor. But you never know. My dealer does have a slot for December 7th delivery so I may be able to get another if the insurance sort everything by the 18th (the cut off for changes).

AndrewB, the tracker is a good idea, but these are high-end organised criminals using high-end tech, therefore I am pretty sure they would have no issue disabling a tracker. A seriously worrying thought as we work hard to be able to afford such cars, only to have a thieving B"£&*$(£ come take it.

I am thinking of getting bollards on my drive and going old school with a steering lock.

 

[Philamg]

Really sorry to hear of the loss, as you say if they want the car badly enough they will get it no matter what you do, they aren't just chancers.
In auto express this week it says car crime was at it lowest in 2013 but has risen yearly since then especially in London.
Let's hope the insurance comes good.

 

[WaltinAnsbach]

This is truly disgusting to hear. I am fortunate that I keep my GLC300 in my Garage at night and my driveway is gated. Also, I work on a Military Base here in Germany--so I feel pretty safe there. BUT!!! Based on your post, I bought a steering wheel lock from Amazon.de. I did some research and like the one i purchased. It collapses to a size that fits conveniently in the driver's side door storage area.

For those of us in Europe, we are all well-aware of highly organized crime originating in Eastern Europe. There's an old joke here in Germany --from the early 90s after the Berlin Wall came down: "How does a German that drives his Mercedes to Czech/Poland/ect..get back home? On the Train."

Now the crime has moved farther east...Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, etc.

Also, recent report in the news about organized crimes near Rammstein AFB. An individual (living off post) went on a business trip for 3 weeks...and returned to find his car stolen and his house completely gutted.

And the issues in Italy are even worse.

When I was working in Wiesbaden, there were CID reports of gangs casing houses in the area...and using chalk or stones as signals to track times the houses were vacant prior to breaking in.

I and my Wife have a lengthy trip scheduled soon. Am planning on putting the steering wheel lock on my GLC...even though she's in the Garage...locking my keys to my GLC and my Wife's 328i in our safe...putting a heavy-duty steel lock on my driveway gate....and asking my Friends to check on our home.

Sad to have to do this, but it's necessary in these times.

Walt

 

[Mercedes.AMG]

I'm also sorry for you, I woud like to add that GAP insurance is a great idea to consider as it will get you back in a NEW car and that's for the life of the policy.

Do not buy from the dealers though, I found their prices 400% higher than reputable compainies on the hgh street and that was after a "so called" discount.

PS, I'm nothing to do any of these companies, I'm just pointing out that it don't cost much in the real world.

 

[romk1n]

I'm also sorry for you, I woud like to add that GAP insurance is a great idea to consider as it will get you back in a NEW car and that's for the life of the policy.

Do not buy from the dealers though, I found their prices 400% higher than reputable compainies on the hgh street and that was after a "so called" discount.

PS, I'm nothing to do any of these companies, I'm just pointing out that it don't cost much in the real world.

true, how much was your GAP insurance for 5 years if you don't mind me asking ?

 

[Mercedes.AMG]

true, how much was your GAP insurance for 5 years if you don't mind me asking ?

£160 for 3 years cover. The stealer wanted over £800

 

[JitP]

So just an update on this guys and gals, my insurance have been very good with us - a bit slow but still happy with the outcome.

They have a new car replacement scheme but they have to source the car. They couldn't give me a time-frame which was frustrating as my dealer has a car ready to spec for delivery in December. I waited 6 months to get my original one so I knew the wait list can be a long time so I tried to persuade them to go with my dealer which they declined. I then asked for a settlement which they told me would be £41k....considering the car was 4 months old and we paid £54k - I was NOT HAPPY. They finally agreed to pay me what I paid for it as a cash settlement (minus tax and excess) so I placed my order for a like for like car which arrives December 7th.

The police closed the case within 4 days so no help there at all.

Now to secure the new car I am going a little overboard but I am so paranoid, I just want to do everything I can to make sure this doesn't happen again. Getting lockable bollards on the driveway. Faraday pouch/box for keys. Steering lock or disc lock. Wheel clamp for overnight. CCTV and a sensor light with an audible alarm if it turn on which will in turn set the dog off (he is a big boy so hopefully when he jumps up at the window it will deter them). The sensor light also can turn on a light inside the house. Any other suggestions welcome.....

 

[AndrewB]

Aparently you can disable the keyless go by pressing the lock button twice so presumably the key stops transmitting and you don't need a faraday cage to keep the keys in . Does anybody know if that is true ? Good luck with your new car by the way , is it a factory build or off the shelf ?

 

[Philamg]

Aparently you can disable the keyless go by pressing the lock button twice so presumably the key stops transmitting and you don't need a faraday cage to keep the keys in . Does anybody know if that is true ? Good luck with your new car by the way , is it a factory build or off the shelf ?

Doesn't sound logical to me, I think pressing the lock button twice just disables the alarm movement sensors in the car, used if you leave someone inside.

 

[AndrewB]

Matbe it's different in USA but if you google disable keyless go MBUSA says pressing the lock button twice in quick sucession disables the key and press any key to enable it again . Let us know if it works.

 

[Philamg]

Matbe it's different in USA but if you google disable keyless go MBUSA says pressing the lock button twice in quick sucession disables the key and press any key to enable it again . Let us know if it works.

Just checked and it IS the same in UK, on page 86 of handbook.

 

[AndrewB]

Just checked and it IS the same in UK, on page 86 of handbook.

So if you do that at night there is no need for a tin box to keep your keys in , they'll have to break in and steal the keys so a good chance they'll get chewed up by the dog , just kidding!

 

[JitP]

Got my replacement car today! Oh what a joy it is to drive after driving the VW polo! Love it all over again! Fingers crossed it doesn't go walkies again!

 

[Philamg]

Enjoy and don't forget to press the button twice.

 

[gb93616]

Congrats @JitP Glad to hear you have your replacement..

If I'm honest, until your experience I didn't really believe they could be stolen that way. However, I now have a couple of Faraday pouches that I keep my keys in now...

Graham