W124 theft

[porkystav]

Hi all, just a quick warning to any W124 (actually an S124) owners in the North London area, and further afield, my S124 E200 auto was stolen from my driveway between Friday night 23:00 and Saturday Morning 05:00.
My bedroom is right above where I park my car, it was a hot summer evening so the bedroom windows were open and now it's gone, not a sound, no broken glass, wires etc, the car keys are still in the safe at home!!
I was advised that an alarm and/or immobiliser is not enough to deter professional thieves, physical security, such as a steering wheel lock that covers the whole steering wheel, Disklock etc, and/or a good quality wheel clamp are needed to deter the scum bags.
The car and/or its parts are probably already on a container by now, please don't let this happen to you.
Stav.

 

[A150]

I'm very sorry to hear this bad news. I hope the paper chase the insurance company will give you isn't as painful as the loss of your car.

Tony

 

[Sp!ke]

So the W124 thefts have started up again

They locked this lot up already but it would seem they are out on good behaviour.

 

[boomtings]

What year was your car and what was the condition like?

I suspect that some of these cars are being stolen for the scrap metal value and not parts or export.

kind regards.

 

[brigadier]

I think they go to africa for parts. Sorry to hear this!

 

[trapperjohn]

Jeez mate. Bummer. I seriously hope this is not on the up again. I heard scrap prices had gone down so it must be for parts or export.

 

[SL300-24]

Sorry to hear of your loss. I agree it will probably end up in Africa.

 

[d w124]

So the W124 thefts have started up again

It never ended.London is where they usually go missing and the estates seem to be the target lately

 

[martyz]

Yes,exports to Africa are very high at the moment,two of my merc spares people are not breaking for spares at the moment,all getting stripped and shipped.

 

[Sp!ke]

Yes,exports to Africa are very high at the moment,two of my merc spares people are not breaking for spares at the moment,all getting stripped and shipped.

Interesting... I wonder who is taking their stock?

Following the money will likely reveal the same team behind the thefts.

 

[markjay]

Sorry to hear about this.

Some years ago Pegeout 505 estates were being stolen in droves and shipped to Africa, seems like some models are in great demand over there.

 

[V12]

And yet you can pick up S124 in spares/repairs condition for pretty much scrap value...very weird that they would bother with the risk.

 

[cinek]

And yet you can pick up S124 in spares/repairs condition for pretty much scrap value...very weird that they would bother with the risk.

I think in the peanuts vs nothing battle, nothing will always have the upper hand

 

[Scott_F]

I can never understand how the tea leaves get away with these thefts.

To lift a car and carry it away takes heavy equipment that is both large and noisy - particularly in the dead of night. Even if the owner doesn't see or hear anything it only needs one neighbour to do so.

To pull it off once would need a lot of luck but to do it on a regular basis seems miraculous.

 

[balge]

I can never understand how the tea leaves get away with these thefts.

To lift a car and carry it away takes heavy equipment that is both large and noisy - particularly in the dead of night. Even if the owner doesn't see or hear anything it only needs one neighbour to do so.

To pull it off once would need a lot of luck but to do it on a regular basis seems miraculous.

Not really - a flatbed transit is all it takes. Two minutes to winch it up and it's gone. Do you get up and look every time a transit pulls up on the street? I had a W124 nicked from the car park behind my place a few years ago, word in the trade was Eastern Europe, not Africa though.

 

[grober]

People in the Eastern Block and the Third World appreciate the prestige / build quality of these cars and the simplicity of their electronics. No matching of ignition key units, engine ECU's alarms and immobilisers to overcome. No requirement for Star coding of components to get them to work etc etc.

 

[Scott_F]

Not really - a flatbed transit is all it takes. Two minutes to winch it up and it's gone. Do you get up and look every time a transit pulls up on the street? I had a W124 nicked from the car park behind my place a few years ago, word in the trade was Eastern Europe, not Africa though.

I'd like to think I'd get up if a flatbed lorry started winching my car from my drive in the still of night.

And even if the owner is a heavy sleeper, sooner rather than later someones' neighbour will be putting the rubbish out / bringing the cat in / coming home after a night out etc. and spot what's happening.

If they can get these cars loaded without setting off an alarm, a flatbed with a Mercedes on the back at 3am will stand out like a sore thumb (especially as the police know that such thefts are common).

I just can't see how they get away with it time after time.