New California trend - will it sweep the nation?
11-26-2007, 10:43 AM
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New California trend - will it sweep the nation?
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/55672/img_3973.jpg"></center><p>
Sometime between midnight and 1am this morning my front bumper was stolen from my parked car. I was parked on a quiet, one-way residential street in an upscale San Francisco neighborhood. Someone witnessed the theft and called it in to the police. I was rousted from a deep sleep at 1am and followed the police officers to my car where I filled out a police report.
The thieves stole the entire front bumper (stock) with my foglights and headlight washer assemblies. They also boosted my RS4 grille. They left my front license plate behind.
The job was very clean and done by professionals as nothing was damaged except for the two chipped paint areas on the bottom of the quarter panels where they meet the bumper. You can see where the prybar indented the left quarter panel somewhat.
I just had my front and rear bumpers replaced and painted (Pearl White) in September and this leads me to believe they were after it for the paint color more than just the bumper. When you consider that it would cost about $ 550 to replace the bumper, then an additional $ 500 to paint it, plus the cost of the washer assemblies, front grille, the lower grilles, and the foglights, this is about a $ 2,000 total value.
The thieves were in a green SUV with a vanity plate registered in Long Beach, CA.
Beware all of you California S4 owners. This could become more commonplace like the New England headlight theft wave from several years ago. Although it is interesting that they didn't jack my headlights while they had them exposed. Nobody said the criminal mind was a rational one. If anyone is having their bumpers replaced, please confirm the source of your parts. Help do your part to remove criminal activity from our society.
There are more pictures in my Pic Poster for the curious.
Sometime between midnight and 1am this morning my front bumper was stolen from my parked car. I was parked on a quiet, one-way residential street in an upscale San Francisco neighborhood. Someone witnessed the theft and called it in to the police. I was rousted from a deep sleep at 1am and followed the police officers to my car where I filled out a police report.
The thieves stole the entire front bumper (stock) with my foglights and headlight washer assemblies. They also boosted my RS4 grille. They left my front license plate behind.
The job was very clean and done by professionals as nothing was damaged except for the two chipped paint areas on the bottom of the quarter panels where they meet the bumper. You can see where the prybar indented the left quarter panel somewhat.
I just had my front and rear bumpers replaced and painted (Pearl White) in September and this leads me to believe they were after it for the paint color more than just the bumper. When you consider that it would cost about $ 550 to replace the bumper, then an additional $ 500 to paint it, plus the cost of the washer assemblies, front grille, the lower grilles, and the foglights, this is about a $ 2,000 total value.
The thieves were in a green SUV with a vanity plate registered in Long Beach, CA.
Beware all of you California S4 owners. This could become more commonplace like the New England headlight theft wave from several years ago. Although it is interesting that they didn't jack my headlights while they had them exposed. Nobody said the criminal mind was a rational one. If anyone is having their bumpers replaced, please confirm the source of your parts. Help do your part to remove criminal activity from our society.
There are more pictures in my Pic Poster for the curious.
11-26-2007, 12:08 PM
#2
Oh crap. That's UCSF/Parnassus/inner Sunset, right?
Someone up north for the long weekend, perhaps?
Your estimate might even be low since it's not just the cover but the whole bumper assembly.
Wow. Very, very bold... especially since there was no fog this weekend.
Hope they catch and string those guys up. Going to deal with the costs on your own? Even with used parts, no getting around the paint. Good luck and thanks for the heads up.
Someone else just posted here about an attempted theft of his car, but I think that was a B7.
Your estimate might even be low since it's not just the cover but the whole bumper assembly.
Wow. Very, very bold... especially since there was no fog this weekend.
Hope they catch and string those guys up. Going to deal with the costs on your own? Even with used parts, no getting around the paint. Good luck and thanks for the heads up.
Someone else just posted here about an attempted theft of his car, but I think that was a B7.
11-26-2007, 12:13 PM
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Re: Oh crap. That's UCSF/Parnassus/inner Sunset, right?
Correct - Ashbury Heights. Nice guess. Very fvcking bold move, but they were noticed. I also saw that thread about a Daly City jacking and a Mission attempt. This thing is over 6 years old and the resale value has fallen through the floor. Why the criminal attraction? My guess is that it is a midnight auto body sourcing run. If it had happened outside my window, I'd have put a bullet in their asses. No kidding.
11-26-2007, 12:35 PM
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I had the attempt on my B7, This guy was NOT a professional
as it looked like he used a crow bar to pry open the top corner of my driver's side door. My guess is it's the holiday season and people need cash. Or perhaps they are having a fire sale in Crack?
Your guess is as good as mine, I am sure your Comprehensive will cover that, but that sucks. I live on the Haight, but never park my car on the street.
Good luck in getting her back together ASAP.
Your guess is as good as mine, I am sure your Comprehensive will cover that, but that sucks. I live on the Haight, but never park my car on the street.
Good luck in getting her back together ASAP.
maybe I'll secure mine with long studs and security nuts.
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11-26-2007, 01:22 PM
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Do you think it's possible your Body Shop was in on it?
In Seattle there was a car stereo shop that was in on car audio thefts as they had all the codes, and addresses of their customers.
The only reason I mention is that the job was obviously done by professionals and occured so recently to the time you got your car repaired.
The only reason I mention is that the job was obviously done by professionals and occured so recently to the time you got your car repaired.
