Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Third-row seats new target for thieves]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/09/3rd-row-seats-new-target-for-thieves/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/09/3rd-row-seats-new-target-for-thieves/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/09/3rd-row-seats-new-target-for-thieves/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



SUV owners love the flexibility that their removable or stowable third-row seats afford them, and thieves have taken note. A growing number of third-row seats are being stolen and sold at swap meets, and the removable seats on the Chevy Tahoe are one of the main targets. Chevy designers made the seats easy to install and remove, with only two bolts keeping the additional seating attached to the vehicle. Police officials in Long Beach, CA told Inside Line that the problem is so bad right now, crooks are "breaking into parked SUVs and grabbing third-row seats in the middle of the day". Police are offering to engrave metal under the the seats in several spots to help identify the stolen goods.

[Source: Inside Line]

Third-row seats new target for thieves originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3rd Row Seats3rdRowSeatsStolenTahoeThievesThu, 09 Aug 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bristol break-in stops the presses]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/05/bristol-break-in-stops-the-presses/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/05/bristol-break-in-stops-the-presses/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/05/bristol-break-in-stops-the-presses/#commentsFiled under: ,



Bristol, a little known British builder of expensive luxury and sports cars, opened up its shop this past Monday in Patchway, England to find a rude surprise. Thieves had broken into the factory over the weekend and, instead of stealing cars, ripped off the company's presses that stamp out body panels for its pricey lineup. Ten presses in all were boosted that make body panels for the Blenheim range of coupes. Fortunately, since Bristol only manages to produce about 2 or 3 cars a week, its current inventory of roof, wing and door panels will last for a while, but presses are hard to come by and eventually the company will slow down its snail-pace production to a halt when supplies run out.

The robbers apparently used huge cranes to steal the presses, as well as drove in and out of the complex multiple times to complete the job. No one noticed a thing and they've gotten away scott free for now, but ten presses won't be easy to sell on the black market. Chances are they'll be cut up and sent to China or India to be sold as scrap metal. We can't imagine the criminals will actually start producing Bristols of their own because, quite frankly, they're a bit ugly with a face that only a wealthy Brit could love.

Thanks for the tip, Dylan!

[Source: thisisbristol.co.uk]

Bristol break-in stops the presses originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bristolbroken intoBrokenIntopressesstolestolentheftthievesThu, 05 Jul 2007 18:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Mazda3 may be vulnerable to break-ins]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/19/mazda3-may-be-vulnerable-to-break-ins/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/19/mazda3-may-be-vulnerable-to-break-ins/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/19/mazda3-may-be-vulnerable-to-break-ins/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



We debated on posting this because we always seem to get nailed in the comments for advertising a new way to break the law, but we feel it's important information for Mazda3 owners and we're encouraged by Mazda's reaction to the situation so far. First the deets: it appears that a few owners of the Mazda3 have come back to their vehicles to find their valuables missing but no visible signs of breaking and entering like shattered glass or broken locks. The only clue left by thieves is a big dent in the front passenger door. Canadian website MobileMag.com got the skinny from an anonymous Mazda dealer that if one hits the passenger door hard in just the right spot it will affect the lock assembly mechanism and unlock the doors. Mystery solved.

Mazda has been aware of and working on this issue since October of 2006, and this month it began installing a "countermeasure" in all Mazda3s being built in Japan. For those who have already had their cars broken into, in some cases Mazda has agreed to install a reinforced door lock assembly and a protective plate to prevent the same break-in from happening again, though it has not offered to repair the dents. At this point, Mazda does not consider this "trick" a defect in the product and it hasn't decided whether or not all Mazda3s will be called back to have the countermeasure installed.

We think they should be voluntary called back and have the countermeasures installed. While a thief will get into your vehicle one way or another if he wants to, being able to do it without smashing glass or looking terribly suspicious makes the Mazda3 a much more tempting target. Still, no one should leave valuables out in the open and give criminals a reason to target your vehicle.

Thanks for the tip, Rich!

[Source: MobileMag.com]

Mazda3 may be vulnerable to break-ins originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>break inbreak-inBreakIncrimecriminallock assemblyLockAssemblylocksmazda3stolenthievesunlockFri, 19 Jan 2007 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Beach beauties in Moscow lead to boosted cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/06/beach-beauties-in-moscow-lead-to-boosted-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/06/beach-beauties-in-moscow-lead-to-boosted-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/06/beach-beauties-in-moscow-lead-to-boosted-cars/#commentsFiled under:

The last thing you expect when exiting your vehicle to witness a group of women stripping down and washing each other on the beach is for someone to jack your car, but that's exactly what dozens of Russian motorists encountered recently in Moscow thanks to a creative group of car thieves. The heist involved three attractive women who would stage their show at Balashikh Beach in Moscow. When hapless drivers would stop and get out of their cars to ogle, a gang of miscreants would swoop in and boost the cars. The girls then exited stage left to a waiting van.

In related news, 25 percent of Russian drivers admit to having had sex while driving, so are we really surprised?

[Source: 4Car]


Beach beauties in Moscow lead to boosted cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beachbeautiesboostedgirlsmoscowrussiastolenstripthiefthievesWed, 06 Sep 2006 18:55:00 EST<![CDATA[$450K show car gets Grand Theft Auto treatment: $5K reward for return]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/20/5-000-reward-for-info-leading-to-the-recovery-of-chocolate-thu/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/20/5-000-reward-for-info-leading-to-the-recovery-of-chocolate-thu/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/20/5-000-reward-for-info-leading-to-the-recovery-of-chocolate-thu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's one thing when thieves outside a 7-11 nab your winter beater. It's another whole thing when low lifes hijack your $450,000 vintage 1937 Ford convertible show car along with the 1999 Ford F350 and trailer in which it was being transported. This one-of-a-kind vehicle nicknamed "Chocolate Thunder" and built by Rad Rides By Troy for a private owner and was being transported to an auto show in Quebec City earlier this month when it, the truck and trailer were stolen from a hotel parking lot.

The shop has put up a $5,000 reward for anyone able to provide info that leads to the return of the vehicle. Everyone is hoping the vehicle is returned in one piece, though Brian Ferguson of Rad Rides fears the car attracts so much attention that the criminals may destroy it to avoid detection.

[Source: Inside Line; Oilstick]

$450K show car gets Grand Theft Auto treatment: $5K reward for return originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Apr 2006 17:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1937 Ford Convertible1937FordConvertibleChocolate ThunderChocolateThundercrimecriminalgrand theft autoGrandTheftAutotheftthieverythievesThu, 20 Apr 2006 17:11:00 EST