C63 - car being eyed up- coincidence/paranoia or sinister?

[Gen]

I own a 14 reg decent spec C63 Saloon...black and 19" black alloy.

Anyhow, I live in a quiet square in the Redbridge area (which is a hot spot for car theft especially keyless). Car parked on my drive but I have installed driveway bolster bars which locks at night and whenever the car is parked for extended periods of time. On top if this car has a steerlock and tracker device so a decent measure of security on it. Ontop of all this my home is alarmed so if home invasion should happen this hopefully will serve its purpose too.

Well...Yesterday eve just after 7pm I was on the top floor of my end of terrace home when to my surprise I saw the same spec C63 as mine, only difference was it had slight tint on the windows and silver spoked alloys - its breakpads sounded knackered though, pull up in the road infront of my house right opposite my driveway and stood there for a good minute or so looking into my driveway at my vehicle. Now, being short sighted i could not make out, in detail, the occupants of this vehicle (what i could make out is what seemed like 2 males in the front) and the number plate details...but seemed from my poor vision as if the plate couldve be a personalised plate.

Now what made me mega suspicious is the fact of what are the chances of a near identical vehicle being purely coincidently in my square just accidentaly driving by for whatever reason (drug dealer / visitor / looking for a quiet place to park and 'smoke') or was these guys there for a purpose eyeing up my vehicle for more sinister reasons ...slowing down at my driveway then stopping and scoping my car out.

After it took off it drove just around the corner where it parked up again for all what mustve been 3 mins until it took off n slowly left the square.

Now as said it could have been purely coincidence and them spotting the vehicle and as its similar stopping to have a nose or would you also think it is strange. I am extremely uneasy about it all but then again paranoia is a nasty beast...thoughts? Thanks.

 

[Sp!ke]

They could have simply been admiring your well kept example.

 

[MancMike]

I'd be paranoid. I know what scumbags like that are like.

Your plate has probably been copied. Things like speeding tickets, making off without paying for petrol etc all don't matter so much (to him) once he gets his allows swapped to match yours.

He's unlikely to have stumbled across your car, and even if he did, he's got one, so why the prolonged stop?

I'd put money on sinister.

 

[Gen]

You may be right, but just seems strange the only difference in that vehicle to mine was it had a silver spoke n mine black and also to be in a quiet square for as i said what could be xyz reasons hmmmm...

Maybe should play the lottery as the chances of winning that now may be high after this coincidence hehe or was it...

 

[Gen]

I'd be paranoid. I know what scumbags like that are like.

Your plate has probably been copied. Things like speeding tickets, making off without paying for petrol etc all don't matter so much (to him) once he gets his allows swapped to match yours.

He's unlikely to have stumbled across your car, and even if he did, he's got one, so why the prolonged stop?

I'd put money on sinister.

I-conica thats things which crossed my mind too...more important so what can be done about it? Too much scum around upto no good these days

 

[Gen]

What also bugs me even more why the second stop just around the corner...to do what...write it down, make a quick call to his mate at the chop shop or the guvnor...i know this is all twisted thoughts but look at what happens each and every day to people! We work hard for the good in our lives and others want to nick/plunder and defraud!

 

[renault12ts]

Quick...move house.

 

[MancMike]

Dashcams, tracker (you've got), cctv, etc. It depends what they're planning, if anything.

If you got carjacked/robbed, they can clone their non-reported-stolen plate on yours and yours disappears undetected overseas.

If it's as simple as a cloned plate then you could look out for it and if you see it, get it's vin from it's dashboard assuming it's parked up, then report it.

If anything comes through the post about it, hopefully CCTV at your home or work, or dash cam if you're driving could go some way to proving it wasn't you doing 140 down the M11, although they'd probably dispute the time of the footage but it's another string to your bow at least.

I'm no expert, you've obviously been thinking about this longer than I have, but it's safer to assume sinister and prepare better, - than to assume innocent admiration and suffer the consequences. (do you or any neighbours have CCTV that might have caught their plate? So you can jot it down?)

 

[Gen]

Hmmm yep as said massive coincidence is my last thoughts. I dont have cctv but a neighbor (opposite the spot they stopped the 2nd time has) will go ask and see...

Dashcam may be the way forward too!

 

[FastLaneJB]

I believe car dealers of really expensive cars leave their cars with almost zero fuel in them. I remember reading a story about a high end car being nicked from a dealer to be found abandoned about 0.25 miles from the dealer with no fuel in it. Probably not practical but I like the theory in my head of being able to suck the car dry when back at home and then filling it back up before you leave.

That way they fire her up, you hear your V8 roar and then a few metres down the road it dies (It is a 6.2 litre V8 that sucks fuel up like no ones business after all). I suspect by that point they'd have to abort. You can then retrieve your dash cam footage which hopefully caught their faces to give it to the police so they can not find of catch the criminals like normal...

 

[Lee C63]

If it was more or less identical...it could be a case of taking your Reg as previously said so they can fill up at petrol stations and do a runner....

I had a guy knock on the door and said he cleans high end cars and uses professional polish and could do it for 25 pounds a month!!!! He had done all sorts of exotic cars in the North East. He gave me a flyer for his "company" at which point the dog walked into the porch to have a look (Akita) and he said to give him a call and walked off.

Could not find his company on the Web, and the phone number was non existent.
Phoned the police, and they said i was the 3rd person to contact them in the area about the same thing........some horrible barstewards about. Hopefully seeing the dog put him off breaking into the house for the keys!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Gen]

It seems that majority so far thinks along the lines of my chain of thoughts. Appreciate the feedback.

As said the only difference i could make out between he card was it had silver alloys (mine black) and slight tint on its windows mine don't. Also as said i heard when it stopped to park up around the corner that the break pads on it was going (squeaking badly).

Instead of waiting for something to happen Im considering reporting the incident to the police but I suppose i'll get the usual we cannot do anything at this point in time. Last thing i would want is a knock on the door saying 'sorry sir you're wanted for so n so'...

Best be pro-active Im wondering or just wait and see?? Hmmm...

 

[jotter22]

Wont hurt to report it to the local police....But if a scally was up to no good would he really take his car and park outside your house and not leave it around the corner and just walk past?
Hope you have nothing further to add.

Tony

 

[Gen]

Tony Indeed one do not as I say know full fact but best hedge the bets...as mentioned it could be paranoia or...

Only they would know their business

 

[kid-jensen]

It's sad that we have become conditioned to think of some sinister outcome these days. I agree, it's more likely that they want to clone your number plate than actually steal it, bearing in mind your additional security precautions. In which case, it shouldn't be a concern at all as you can prove you were elsewhere..

Sadly it's modern paranoia and we all have to deal with it. When I had my Jensen on the road (30-odd years ago) people in all sorts of interesting cars used to stop for a chat about petrolhead subjects in general, and if I wasn't hanging around the car, they would often wait around until I came out to say hello....

 

[BigChap]

better to be safe than sorry but i reckon it's probably a coincidence, probably looking for a house etc. I live at the end of a similar cul-de-sac and there's always strange cars turning at the end after visiting/delivering etc. Also, how would they have known the car sits there? have you ever posted photos online showing your reg?

If i was up to no good like that i'd probably be in a different car or walk by if possible.

 

[tanuie]

Quick...change your car.

 

[Gen]

I called the Met Pol this morn explaining the situation and they gave me the relevant CAD no. and was told an officer will come to see me (not sure what the use of that will be now but hey so be it and at least I got things hedged as much as I can say in the vent something further develops).

Per the question how they knew it was sitting there...well you drive your car everyday round town and someone can pickup your reg from parking up at a shop et al...it not rocket science and if you know the right (or is it dodgey enough people) you can get the address etc to where it is registered.

End of the day if they want to come to get it...they going to have their work cut out - yes these no-gooders are Pro's too at their trade but it will take them some time getting past locks, driveway bars, steerlocks, car security and then tracker as back-up...worth their while well...sure there are easier targets.

As for the clone option, Ive reported it now so been pro-active on that front so that would be back up to it for just incase.

In the perfect world I hope for this just to be a HUUUUUGGGGGE accidental coincidence...then again...living in a quiet square, a car like for like drive up and did what it done...coincidence...my gut tells me different.

Thanks again for all the input even for the 'comical ones saying change car/change home hehe ! ;-)

 

[MancMike]

You're right. People can drive around making notes of nice cars and their colour, reg, etc. Then sell those details.

If it's outside a nice house in a nice area, chances are the owner has a high paying steady job. If it's parked outside a sh*thole, it's probably a drug dealers car and it's reg is worthless.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

If they were really looking to clone your car do you think they'd be that stupid to drive exactly the same car to case out yours?

Edit: thinking about it, it's possible!