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Attempted theft - rant

3.5K views 17 replies 10 participants last post by  SLVR_ALRT  
#1 ·
2023 Scat Pack. Parked on the street in a "nicer" very urban area area in a crappy city. They broke the driver side rear window and maybe crawled inside. Alarm went off. They stopped. Alarm stopped, they went at it again. Alarm went off again and they eventually left. I don't know if the alarm went off due to the intrusion sensor or my added shock sensor or them trying to program a key.

I found a key fob inside the car which they were likely trying to program.

My car has the software update and a kill switch so the odds of them taking the car were very low if they were using the fob method... but I still have 2 windows to replace.

And I have the club, which didn't do much to deter them. The brazenness of these guys was what shocked me. Just going at it again the moment the alarm stopped.

I am not moving and I don't have nor will have a garage so save yourself those recommendations. It's either street parking or getting another car for me. If this happens again I think I'm out. Love the car. Wanted to keep it "forever". But piece of mind is also important.

I wonder if over time the software update is so widespread that this method of theft fades away?
 
#2 ·
RSW:
Sorry to hear of your situation. Until we as a society, get the folks we pay to run the government and the courts such that the risk is not worth the reward, this is what we will have. Makes me want to spit nails.

Don
 
#3 ·
Seems like you're taking the right precautions. Unfortunately, living in a crappy city comes with those negatives if that's truly where you want to live. Nobody saw anything or caught anything on a camera? Not that a big city PD is going to lift a finger to investigate a car break-in....

Best,
 
#11 ·
I have it all on my own cameras. But it's not very useful. At night, at an angle. You can see their car (which is definitely a car you can easily tell apart) - but no read of the license plate. I guess if they ever catch them this would be enough to tie them back to this crime. I will still file a report and make the video available to the local PD.
 
#4 · (Edited)
You live NEAR a crappy city, which is all I needed to read. You're close enough for them to reach. They know the area you live has nicer cars. Now they also know where you live, and they didn't get it on the first try.

As @RitzRT said, no city PD is going to investigate and attempted car theft.


I live about 45 minutes outside of a small crappy city in PA, and about 90 minutes outside of Philadelphia. I also have a garage. In 10 years of Charger V8s I never had an issue, but I am surrounded by farm land.



I won't recommend this to you, because it might not be positive especially in relation to you wanting to keep the Charger. But these have been my thoughts, especially after a few NYC trips over the past few years. You'll see expensive cars. German cars lining the residential city streets. Benz, Benz, Benz, BMW, BMW, all down the street. ALL of them have numerous door dings. These aren't beaters either. They're new luxury cars. With the way I am, I said to myself there is absolutely no chance I could deal with that. If I lived in a city, or an an area like you that has some theft issues, I'd drive a used Chevrolet Impala, or Honda Accord. Something reliable, something not necessarily a primary vandal target, and something I'm not going to have a meltdown over if it gets bumped or dinged. I was over the top with my 392 and 5.7. Neither of them had a scratch or a dent, both were black, and if anything did occur it was taken care of immediately. Now, with my truck. I bought it used, it already has some dents, and it's a truck so I really do not care.

Long story short since I rambled, if I was you, I'd get rid of the Charger. Maybe down the road if you have the ability to store one out of harms way. But in an area where it's now been targeted once, and probably will be again, I couldn't deal with that.
 
#8 ·
You live NEAR a crappy city, which is all I needed to read. You're close enough for them to reach. They know the area you live has nicer cars. Now they also know where you live, and they didn't get it on the first try.

As @RitzRT said, no city PD is going to investigate and attempted car theft.

Long story short since I rambled, if I was you, I'd get rid of the Charger. Maybe down the road if you have the ability to store one out of harms way. But in an area where it's now been targeted once, and probably will be again, I couldn't deal with that.
Yes, they know where to hit people. Friend of mine had 2 Trackhawks stolen and then gave up.

I was toying around with alternatives yesterday... Lexus IS500 could be an option. Still a NA V8. Based on reviews much tamer than the Scat. But then, piece of mind.
 
#6 ·
Nearly 20 years ago, I lived in an urban poop-hole city (Jersey City). I had someone steal my low mileage mint condition Mustang right out of my driveway. It was behind an industrial rolling gate with a fairly substantial lock. The local PD basically just laughed when I reported it and begrudgingly took a report so that I could get my insurance payment. The police flat out told me they wouldn't investigate it.

Now I don't live in one of those places. Like @FlyersHockey , I live far enough away from urban cesspools that I don't (yet) have to worry about some low-life trying to steal my property. Why anyone would subject themselves to living in an area where local wildlife feel like your property is community property is mystifying to me. Today it was the guy's car. Tomorrow, it could be his wallet or his life.

Wise up and choose not to live among those who would elect people who allow this environment to perpetuate. Not what the original poster wants to hear, but you play silly games and you win silly prizes.

Best,
 
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#10 ·
Wise up and choose not to live among those who would elect people who allow this environment to perpetuate. Not what the original poster wants to hear, but you play silly games and you win silly prizes.
Yes, it's always a possibility but it's not something I'd do tomorrow. So in the "short term", and short term means in terms of timeline of having a certain car, the car is what would have to go.
 
#7 ·
Sorry to hear about your Scat. They got my son two days ago, same scenario. They didn’t get the car, but they took what little he had left on it. They got nothing except for a Guardian Angel visor clip and a baseball glove that he’s had since he was a kid.
Again, he’s moving.
Image
 
#9 ·
Sorry to hear about your Scat. They got my son two days ago, same scenario. They didn’t get the car, but they took what little he had left on it. They got nothing except for a Guardian Angel visor clip and a baseball glove that he’s had since he was a kid.
Again, he’s moving.
Sorry to hear that man. It's just so common. I was very glad they didn't take my 392 cap :) And I guess I have an extra FOB which is useless since my car has the software update.
 
#12 ·
I’m just outside Philadelphia. They come out here. No vehicle is safe anymore. My Charger, if not kept in the garage at night, probably would have been hit by now. I swear, if I owned a gun and I heard something in my driveway if I had kept them out there, I might fire. Because my Accord was hit twice. I’m sick of it.
 
#13 ·
Maybe not the best thing to post online.

I live in PA too. It's frustrating, but you'd have to make them a direct threat to you or family to fire on them.
 
#14 ·
One thing I've noticed about living in the FL panhandle is people seem to respect other people's cars much more than anywhere else I've ever lived. I can park my car virtually anywhere at WalMart, Sam's Club, Publix, etc. (I never used to) and oftentimes there'll be a beater parked next to me by the time I get out, and never a scratch or ding on my car. I parked at the airport long term parking lot on the top deck at Pensacola Airport for over three weeks, and upon return, it was exactly the way I'd left it. God knows how many cars came and went during that time frame. It's all about the area you choose to live I guess.
One thing I think helps is the large presence of military personnel around here due to numerous bases in the area. They teach their kids right from wrong, and don't hesitate to get involved if they see some shit going down. Virtually every other household in my neighborhood is armed to the hilt, so the bad guys know better than to set foot in it.
The only place I think a car would be at risk here would be parked outside of a bar or club at night due to drunks, or in a sketchy neighborhood, which I don't frequent anyway.