Thieves punching a small hole through the cars door skin

egremont · 9th February 2018, 07:13

A friend sent this warning to me earlier today, and I am sending this in case you have not heard about it.

I can't get the photo to appear in this message. The small hole is only the diameter of a small punch. His vehicle is not a Rover and I wonder whether the 75/ZTs rather solid internal door mechanism could prevent such an intrusion.

Quote:
A HOLE UNDER THE DOOR LOCK !! worth knowing

It never end’s does it? Another thing to look out for.

On Wednesday, I approached my car from the passenger side to place my computer bag on the front passenger seat.

As I reached to open the door I noticed there was a hole right under my door handle.

My first thought was, "Someone has shot the car !"

I began to think about it and inspect it a little closer and the "light" slowly began to dawn.

I phoned a friend who owns a body shop, and asked if he had any vehicles with damage to the doors that looked like a bullet hole.

"Yes, I see it all the time. Thieves have a punch and place it right under the door handle, knock a hole through, reach in and unlock it, just as if they have a key. No alarms, broken glass, or anything."

I then placed a call to my insurance agent and explained it to him. I was puzzled that they left my GPS and all other belongings.

Here is where it gets scary !

"Oh no, he said, they want the break-in to be so subtle that you don't even realize it. They look at your GPS to see where "home" is. Or check your address from Insurance and Registration documents in your glove box. Now they know what you drive, go to your home, and if your vehicle isn't there they assume you aren't, and break into your home."

He said they will even leave a purse or wallet and only take one or two credit cards. By the time you realize there has been a theft, they may have already had a couple of days or more to use them. (I didn't realize my situation for two full days!) They even give you the courtesy of re-locking your doors for you.

Periodically, walk around your car, especially after you park in a shopping center or other large parking area.

Report thefts immediately....your bank w/missing check numbers, your credit card agencies, police, and insurance companies, etc. end of quote.

The "Hole under door lock" - One would have to look pretty darn close to notice a hole like that. If the hole was on the passenger side I would never see it.

topman · 9th February 2018, 07:25

I'm guessing it's one of those chain messages doing the rounds? I'm going to say it started in the US from the wording.

coab · 9th February 2018, 07:26

Some scrote smashed my window and dismantled my steering wheel lock bar that locks onto the wheel and got half way reprogramming a new key via my OBD socket on my Focus last week but a neighbour disturbed them.
£125 for a Disklok and £90 for a new window and £15 for a plastic trim by the window they damaged and the OBD now relocated all is good.

If it wasnt for the cheap lock that took them 3 mins to butcher my car would have gone. The hole below the barrel on a door is an old one they have used for years.
Google the penny in the door handle on youtube for another good one.

Stewbacca · 9th February 2018, 07:54

This is nothing new.

Over 20 years ago it was well known technique for gaining entry. I had a Mk 2 Golf GTi and had it happen to me. They used a screwdriver to punch through the door skin just below the door handle. A quick waggle and the door springs open.

It was so rife that there was a booming market in aftermarket armoured door plates that fitted around the outer door handle. Conveniently these also covered the hole that had been punched through so added extra security and cosmetically covered the damage.

SCP440 · 9th February 2018, 08:44

I had an Astra GTE done the same way, it was recovered the following day with a hole in the drivers door, a screwdriver in the passenger seat and no petrol. Apparently they put the screwdriver in the seat in case they stall it.

Jezzer 1 · 9th February 2018, 08:55

I once parked my Range Rover in the car park at Heathrow while I dropped someone off at the terminal. Came back to find the same thing - small hole under the drivers door handle. Fortunately they must have been disturbed 'cos the car was still there. That was years ago, so it's not a new thing.

Terryf · 9th February 2018, 10:07

So can any of this be done to open our cars?

spongeh · 9th February 2018, 10:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewbacca

This is nothing new.

Over 20 years ago it was well known technique for gaining entry. I had a Mk 2 Golf GTi and had it happen to me. They used a screwdriver to punch through the door skin just below the door handle. A quick waggle and the door springs open.

It was so rife that there was a booming market in aftermarket armoured door plates that fitted around the outer door handle. Conveniently these also covered the hole that had been punched through so added extra security and cosmetically covered the damage.

I was just about to post the same thing.... Loved my Mk2 Gti 16v

This is Snopes take on it and it's a bit yay/nay... nothing definitive.

https://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/handle.asp

Mike Noc · 9th February 2018, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terryf

So can any of this be done to open our cars?

Can't see how they would do it with just a small hole under the lock - the tumbler to locking assembly connection is by an enclosed cable loop, not a rod.

vacuman · 9th February 2018, 15:41

It's worse if you have a traders van, it's called peel n steal...

They 'can-opener' a side panel, pull it down and take a peek. if anything of value they keep going until they can get in or reach it.

More often than not the van is empty and the owner is left with an insurance nightmare and, potentially significant loss of income.

9th February 2018, 07:13	#1
egremont Loves to post Rover 75 Connoisseur SE. Auto. Saloon. SE Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 458 Thanks: 163 Thanked 198 Times in 70 Posts	Thieves punching a small hole through the cars door skin A friend sent this warning to me earlier today, and I am sending this in case you have not heard about it. I can't get the photo to appear in this message. The small hole is only the diameter of a small punch. His vehicle is not a Rover and I wonder whether the 75/ZTs rather solid internal door mechanism could prevent such an intrusion. Quote: A HOLE UNDER THE DOOR LOCK !! worth knowing It never end’s does it? Another thing to look out for. On Wednesday, I approached my car from the passenger side to place my computer bag on the front passenger seat. As I reached to open the door I noticed there was a hole right under my door handle. My first thought was, "Someone has shot the car !" I began to think about it and inspect it a little closer and the "light" slowly began to dawn. I phoned a friend who owns a body shop, and asked if he had any vehicles with damage to the doors that looked like a bullet hole. "Yes, I see it all the time. Thieves have a punch and place it right under the door handle, knock a hole through, reach in and unlock it, just as if they have a key. No alarms, broken glass, or anything." I then placed a call to my insurance agent and explained it to him. I was puzzled that they left my GPS and all other belongings. Here is where it gets scary ! "Oh no, he said, they want the break-in to be so subtle that you don't even realize it. They look at your GPS to see where "home" is. Or check your address from Insurance and Registration documents in your glove box. Now they know what you drive, go to your home, and if your vehicle isn't there they assume you aren't, and break into your home." He said they will even leave a purse or wallet and only take one or two credit cards. By the time you realize there has been a theft, they may have already had a couple of days or more to use them. (I didn't realize my situation for two full days!) They even give you the courtesy of re-locking your doors for you. Periodically, walk around your car, especially after you park in a shopping center or other large parking area. Report thefts immediately....your bank w/missing check numbers, your credit card agencies, police, and insurance companies, etc. end of quote. The "Hole under door lock" - One would have to look pretty darn close to notice a hole like that. If the hole was on the passenger side I would never see it.

9th February 2018, 07:25	#2
topman This is my second home MG ZT-T 190 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 5,493 Thanks: 372 Thanked 647 Times in 534 Posts	I'm guessing it's one of those chain messages doing the rounds? I'm going to say it started in the US from the wording. __________________ Like being creative? http://www.qwghlm.co.uk/toys/dailymail/

9th February 2018, 08:55	#6
Jezzer 1 I really should get out more....... 75 V8 Connoisseur SE Saloon: 75 V8 Contemporary SE Saloon and others!!! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Warwick Posts: 2,320 Thanks: 1 Thanked 180 Times in 77 Posts	I once parked my Range Rover in the car park at Heathrow while I dropped someone off at the terminal. Came back to find the same thing - small hole under the drivers door handle. Fortunately they must have been disturbed 'cos the car was still there. That was years ago, so it's not a new thing. __________________ *Best regards,* *Jeremy.*

9th February 2018, 15:41	#10
vacuman Gets stuck in MG ZT-T Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: St Albans Posts: 855 Thanks: 69 Thanked 236 Times in 172 Posts	It's worse if you have a traders van, it's called peel n steal... They 'can-opener' a side panel, pull it down and take a peek. if anything of value they keep going until they can get in or reach it. More often than not the van is empty and the owner is left with an insurance nightmare and, potentially significant loss of income. __________________ • This vehicle was the 8,186th ZT-T to run off the production line, out of 8,249 • This vehicle was the 1,723rd ZT-T 190 + to be made out of 1,756 • This vehicle was the 149th ZT-T in Mica Blue (Ignition) (code: JGY) to be made out of 160 Mica Blue (Ignition) ZT-Ts

9th February 2018, 07:26	#3
coab This is my second home 2007 57 GOLF GTi EDITION 30 DSG Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Newport Shropshire and Coventry. Posts: 5,138 Thanks: 2,424 Thanked 1,452 Times in 852 Posts	Some scrote smashed my window and dismantled my steering wheel lock bar that locks onto the wheel and got half way reprogramming a new key via my OBD socket on my Focus last week but a neighbour disturbed them. £125 for a Disklok and £90 for a new window and £15 for a plastic trim by the window they damaged and the OBD now relocated all is good. If it wasnt for the cheap lock that took them 3 mins to butcher my car would have gone. The hole below the barrel on a door is an old one they have used for years. Google the penny in the door handle on youtube for another good one.

9th February 2018, 07:54	#4
Stewbacca Avid contributor MG ZT+ 1.8T Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Stoke-on-Trent Posts: 139 Thanks: 4 Thanked 18 Times in 14 Posts	This is nothing new. Over 20 years ago it was well known technique for gaining entry. I had a Mk 2 Golf GTi and had it happen to me. They used a screwdriver to punch through the door skin just below the door handle. A quick waggle and the door springs open. It was so rife that there was a booming market in aftermarket armoured door plates that fitted around the outer door handle. Conveniently these also covered the hole that had been punched through so added extra security and cosmetically covered the damage.

9th February 2018, 08:44	#5
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,504 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	I had an Astra GTE done the same way, it was recovered the following day with a hole in the drivers door, a screwdriver in the passenger seat and no petrol. Apparently they put the screwdriver in the seat in case they stall it.

9th February 2018, 10:07	#7
Terryf Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon BRG Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Retford Posts: 573 Thanks: 119 Thanked 142 Times in 69 Posts	So can any of this be done to open our cars?