@davep, really interesting thread entry there. I agree with you. I want to know if I am being broken into, hence my original questions in relation to alarms.
There is a whole raft of legal psychological thinking that apportions values to criminal acts, criminal thinking and deterrents. A formula is applied and this determines the likelihood of a perp carrying out a particular crime. They consider a cost/benefit.
Inputs to that affect the likely output/action. Thus statistically, alarms do make a difference. The logic could be extended through to other security devices. Locks, shut doors, windows, and the like. Logically one has to wonder if the window or door should be left unlocked to avoid the cost of repair. It would be even quieter when nothing is broken. A slightly facetious comment but certainly a logical extension of the no alarm thinking.
To be fair to BMW, this last bit is all the fault of the EU - uber thread drift warning!!!
2003 block exemption rules come into force making all manufacturers align their communication to a generic EOBD format. Every one thinks this is the best thing ever, as now there is no need to take their car to the dealers to have the faults read and fixed. Non franchised garages think awesome, we’ll be able to read everything and fix it with tech that is 10% the cost of the dealers stuff.
Sneakily, manufacturers embed a secondary layer into all their code, so they are doing what the EU wants. Sort of. But in reality they bring in more tech that can’t be done without the OE kit - code injectors, reset DPF counters, talk to some body systems, etc because that isn’t covered by block exemption rules - after all, who would have thought that an injector need matching to an engine, you need to replace the fabled EU5 never go wrong in your lifetime clean up the diesel particulate issue DPF, etc. In the meantime they can put their hands up and blame the EU for the all the copy keys that can be programmed in seconds, as that is what the EU demanded that they do, under block exemption/fair trade regs.
For the manufacturer, lose if you do, lose if you don’t.
As others have said, the alarm/no alarm/switch on/ switch off debate is worth having but could the posts be switched to a fresh topic by the mods?
I’d like to contribute but don’t want to bang up Ade’s thread
I really believe CCTV is a must have these days…
relatively cheap and high quality images even in the dark.
I’ve had cctv for about 5 years now and have gotten one perpetrator in front of a judge convicted for criminal damage and another placed on police intelligence system … oh and another reversing into my car …
In additional the dodgy tradesmen (knockers) really seem to notice the cameras and simply pass by the house instead of casing up the joint !
and , just for info I always activate my home alarm when I go to bed and so do my parents.
Wow, whilst I was away filling in form and fitting new locks my thread went off on a different track.
I have to say thanks again for all the kind words from everyone, it really does make you feel a little better.
As for a few queries…
No alarm actually fitted but the house does sport to impressive alarm boxes with flashing lights.
CCTV cameras in 5 locations as well
Now for the bad bits, all the cameras had failed for one reason or another over the last year so no footage (word of warning for people to check!)
I spoke at length to the scene of crime guy who came and took loads of glove prints and a few footwear prints. He told me a few things.
The CCTV is a great deterrent but does not stop pro thieves who want your car, hoods and scarves which is what mine were wearing, on a neighbours CCTV
Buy an alarm that you can set at night to protect downstairs, if they had have got the door open and the alarm went off they would have run, they rarely want confrontation of any kind.
He has showed me how easy it is to get in to my UPVC door even when deadlocked. This has now been fixed with some very clever lock barrels.
Simple screachers (cost £10 each) that go off when the door is opened is a very good deterrent if they do open your door even if the alarm has not triggered yet.
So what have I done?
I have spent £300 on new locks and deadlocks for the garage doors.
£20 on 2 screachers.
£30 on simple flip down arms to stop the doors being forced if they do get through the locks
£400 on some new HD CCTV cameras
Will have to spend about £1000 on a super alarm
Next cars will have trackers or I doubt I will get insurance
In the end I am glad we slept through the whole thing but gutted with some simple things we might not have been claiming for 2 cars and £4k of household stuff. We probably still would have had a busted door with a big repair bill but nothing like the £4-6k we will be out of pocket before you even get to the depreciation on the Q3 as it was 13 months old and I didn’t get gap insurance.
Final word of warning, we now can’t take our cherished plates off our stolen cars for 1 calendar year from date of reported theft unless the cars are recovered!!!
It’s the mental effect that I think is most worrying… I remember when we were first burgled and we knew they had been downstairs… that’s what really freaked me out - the fact that I knew nothing about it and they were so close. I agree that most don’t want confrontation and that’s one of the two main reasons we alarm the house at night (the other being that I want to know about it and prepare).
Not heard of the screechers before Ade - what are they ? sound like a good idea.
Ultimately, Jonny has a valid point, if they want something bad enough, they will find a way… but the purpose is really just to deter them enough so that they look for an easier target elsewhere.
Hope it all gets sorted Ade - feel for you…
I had my Motorcycle stolen a couple of years ago from the old workshop, cant imagine what its like to know they have been in the house.
My alarm goes off when anyone steps into the garden, sadly it includes pheasants and cats
But at the moment nobody could get into the house whilst we are asleep without us knowing about it along time before the door or window is opened
The alarm is 6.5 stone of German Sheppard that shouts very very loudly.
Wouldn’t want him involved in anything but he always tells us when he hears something that’s not right!!
Big dogs are possibly the best deterrent, but having to walk them in the dead of winter can be a drawback
Ade - really sorry to hear about it. Hope a peaceful feeling returns asap, insurance co’s are a better experience than expected, and that you soon have two replacement motors that give you pleasure.
Really sorry to hear of this Ade - I know exactly how you feel - we got burgled a few years ago whilst my kids were in bed - sense of shock and outrage is indescribable, even now years on…
The week before last, next door neighbours house got broken into, £20k worth of band gear nicked, loaded in his van and the scrotes drove off. - Because it doesn’t look like forced entry it appears he may not covered by insurance!!! - double whammy…
I was amazed by how small the tool marks were on the front door, the two of them were the size of a medium flat screw driver if they had used a clean tool it might not even have been able to be spotted!!!
Our two dogs are a great early warning too. Anyone even thinks about entering our garden and Barney will start to bark. He know the noise of all our families cars though, so doesn’t bark if its one of us.
