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chazz79 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2008 Posts: 2268 Location: ohio
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Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:43 am Post subject: |
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Due to the popularity of breaking bad your vans are all being stolen and turned into mini labs.
That's my best interpretation of the situation. It rains a lot up there so making meth and stealing stuff must be major pastimes. _________________ One day as a lion, or a lifetime as lamb
The green monster in bits and peices: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=332556&highlight=green+monster |
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akyrie Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2010 Posts: 519 Location: Driftless, Wisco
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Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:01 am Post subject: |
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The thefts sure do bring me lots of excitement. Here where cows have names. _________________ Although I got a funny message from the Porsche guys, it read, "what a mighty ship that you must sail"
....has anyone else received that?
82 AHU DK, 1950's Puch-black |
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Roger65 Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2013 Posts: 73 Location: PNW
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Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:33 am Post subject: |
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Tobias Duncan wrote: |
I think gps/angry mob of samba hippies is the best combination to solve this problem. Kill switch just protects your car. We need to catch these idiots and hold them to account. |
This is the problem. Car thieves don't go to jail until they get really prolific. My mom was on grand jury a few years ago and there was a case where a couple of tweakers were stealing cars just to score meth and use, then dumping them the next day.
They were not prosecuted until they stole 169 cars, and finally the DA decided enough was enough. They had been caught a number of times before and let go. One of the cops said one time they were released and out of the courthouse before he was even done with the paperwork for booking them. He was in jail longer than them!
I'm sure the cops get sick of playing catch and release with these tweakers, which might account for not calling out the whole CSI team every time a car is stolen. It feels different when it's your car though.
I will certainly be on the lookout for your van. I notice every Vanagon I see and catalog the mods for my mental library of future upgrades I might want.
Edit: sorry I missed the post about it being found. Hopefully it will be back in your possession quickly and undamaged |
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Corwyn Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2009 Posts: 2237 Location: Olympia, Washington
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Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 11:14 am Post subject: |
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God bless Texas - where they still hang horse thieves. Maybe they'll extend that to modern conveyances . . . _________________ '90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja
"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~ |
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dreamwalker Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2011 Posts: 12 Location: United States
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Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 9:21 pm Post subject: House break in |
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I'm sure it is totally unrelated but my house just got burglarized a month after I got my stolen van back. Must be working off some bad karma. Just wanted to warn everyone that your registration has your address on it and if they like what they found in your van....they may come looking for more....or it is totally random....
sux anyway
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carterzest Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008 Posts: 3842 Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 9:27 pm Post subject: Re: House break in |
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dreamwalker wrote: |
I'm sure it is totally unrelated but my house just got burglarized a month after I got my stolen van back. Must be working off some bad karma. Just wanted to warn everyone that your registration has your address on it and if they like what they found in your van....they may come looking for more....or it is totally random....
sux anyway
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That does SUCK, big time. Sorry to hear this. There is no more of a feeling of being violated than to have your property stolen, then to have your home rolled……WOW.
I have invited wisevac to give us some details. In the spirit of discovery and preventing these thefts from happening, I sure hope that they chime in and share some of their experience, especially the police holding the van as evidence. Something a bit larger may be going on in the SEA-TAC area. We need to get on this, lest it spread like a cancer to the rest of the PNW. This one was found in the U district, and I'm assuming that means the University District of Seattle by UW.
I had asked Kamzcab86 about posting this as a thread instead of a sticky, and, I am glad its here. These ARE THINGS WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT more! _________________ Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror! |
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dreamwalker Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2011 Posts: 12 Location: United States
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Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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The tweakers have found a way to steal vanagons quickly and easily. They hang out in them and huff starter fluid. (in mine at least) They pop the top and camp out in them for a little while, so they have some private home base of some sort. They run them out of gas and don't refill...so they are not going far. They then take all the stolen stuff...mostly duffle bags, backpacks etc and motorcycle/scooter stuff that they can't sell or trade for drugs and dump it onto the vans for disposal. One van had an entire stolen scooter in it.
They then dump the van near lake city way/east seattle area.
oh and they steal anything of value out of your van.
Add some security to your van if you are in Seattle. I do not expect this to stop soon....they have a good recipe and are repeating it. 5 vans that I know of in the last couple months.
be safe out there |
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carterzest Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008 Posts: 3842 Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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dreamwalker wrote: |
The tweakers have found a way to steal vanagons quickly and easily. They hang out in them and huff starter fluid. (in mine at least) They pop the top and camp out in them for a little while, so they have some private home base of some sort. They run them out of gas and don't refill...so they are not going far. They then take all the stolen stuff...mostly duffle bags, backpacks etc and motorcycle/scooter stuff that they can't sell or trade for drugs and dump it onto the vans for disposal. One van had an entire stolen scooter in it.
They then dump the van near lake city way/east seattle area.
oh and they steal anything of value out of your van.
Add some security to your van if you are in Seattle. I do not expect this to stop soon....they have a good recipe and are repeating it. 5 vans that I know of in the last couple months.
be safe out there |
Folks, ^^^^^^^THIS, is what we are looking for.
"dreamwalker", thank you for sharing this. I want the raw, the autopsy of the experience, so we can help prevent this in the future. I know it hurts, and, I mean no disrespect, Honestly……… I posted this because there is some dissension about how to document these occurrences.
What I found interesting is that a few of these, three I think, were found with the curtains drawn….sound like a similar MO to the above. These are things for people to look for.
Since I have introduced my work group to the Syncro, I have a lot of people looking out for me. I find it comical that many of my friends describe to me, many of my other friends Syncro's….this is good dialogue….people notice these things……..they are cohabitating with them in their neighborhoods. They think Syncros are cool. They are beginning to get it.
The recent surge of vans stolen are in no way tied to the above folks.
again, thanks, and sorry for your bad experiences
and, "dreamwalker", I do not think for a minute that your home breakin was UNINTENDED. This is serious sh!t and, again, thanks for sharing
Now, I want to know "wisevac's" story. Where was it? When was it taken? etc….
I think, ultimately, that there WILL BE a sticky of sorts for our vans, what I want to share are common sense preventative measures, the "oops, it was my fault entirely as I left my keys in the ignition story"….I hope you feel what I am saying here.
THEFT SUCKS A$$ !!!!
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO EVERYDAY………
Please, BEHAVE, and share your ideas. This is serious SH!T to me, and my people(s)
and thanks Mods…for letting this play out ' _________________ Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror!
Last edited by carterzest on Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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tam_shops Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2012 Posts: 1530 Location: Vancouver BC
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Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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Thrilled OP and the others got their Vanagons back!
Just so you know, I had a bad *string* of luck awhile back and it was car being broken into, townhouse being broken into and then Identity Theft. So, you may want to register yourself w/ what ever credit bureau you have that stops people from taking out credit cards in your name...a pain for you if you're wanting new credit, but worth it in the end. My credit card thieves were stopped at the bank when they were "declined" (b/c of the stoppage I'd done). Yeah to that!
I don't get it. You obviously you can break in and hot wire anything you want. But, I am under the impression that nothing (including the windows and/or ignition) have been broken on any of these. I've heard stories about several vehicles starting from the same key, but all those vehicles in the same area? A Bump key or something? Did any of them have Hide-A-Keys hidden somewhere? Do work at the same garage, car wash or smog testing?
dreamwalker wrote: |
The tweakers have found a way to steal vanagons quickly and easily. |
Sucks, so sorry! Makes me scared to bring my Vanagon to Seattle, can you imagine going camping for the weekend and not being able to get home!? Uuggg!
tam _________________ 1987 Vanagon Westfalia GL Automatic
Making it special:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=545885 |
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carterzest Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008 Posts: 3842 Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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tam_shops wrote: |
Thrilled OP and the others got their Vanagons back!
Just so you know, I had a bad *string* of luck awhile back and it was car being broken into, townhouse being broken into and then Identity Theft. So, you may want to register yourself w/ what ever credit bureau you have that stops people from taking out credit cards in your name...a pain for you if you're wanting new credit, but worth it in the end. My credit card thieves were stopped at the bank when they were "declined" (b/c of the stoppage I'd done). Yeah to that!
I don't get it. You obviously you can break in and hot wire anything you want. But, I am under the impression that nothing (including the windows and/or ignition) have been broken on any of these. I've heard stories about several vehicles starting from the same key, but all those vehicles in the same area? A Bump key or something? Did any of them have Hide-A-Keys hidden somewhere? Do work at the same garage, car wash or smog testing?
dreamwalker wrote: |
The tweakers have found a way to steal vanagons quickly and easily. |
Sucks, so sorry! Makes me scared to bring my Vanagon to Seattle, can you imagine going camping for the weekend and not being able to get home!? Uuggg!
tam |
Thank you Tam! I had mine there 12 days ago and my wife thought I was being overly anal, which I get a lot anyways
This is not to be taken lightly! Share if you have something to add. It may complete a missing link. This is the most innovative and eclectic clique I have ever had the pleasure of encountering, and , I am so glad to be a part of it all. We gotta watch our sh!t, though _________________ Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror! |
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kamzcab86 Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008 Posts: 7916 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, it was found!
Is this one still missing: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1549708 ?
dreamwalker wrote: |
I'm sure it is totally unrelated but my house just got burglarized a month after I got my stolen van back. |
tam_shops wrote: |
Just so you know, I had a bad *string* of luck awhile back and it was car being broken into, townhouse being broken into |
Thanks to ^^that sh*t happening in the Phoenix area, I can't stress the following enough:
1) Do NOT keep your registration in the glove box! Find another secure place to store it.
2) Garage door openers: If your vehicle is parked outside at home, do NOT keep a garage door opener inside it. If your garage-kept vehicle is your daily driver, keep the garage door opener out of sight!
What was and is happening here in Phoenix: Losers break into cars during the day at workplaces and shopping centers (causing damage in the process), opening the glove box to get the registration and, if out in the open, taking the garage door opener. They then drive over to the houses, break or walk in, and take what they want. These jackholes are also simply scoping out cars in their driveways; if there's a garage door opener visible, they'll break in, grab the opener and then walk into your house.
carterzest wrote: |
I think, ultimately, that there WILL BE a sticky of sorts for our vans, what I want to share are common sense preventative measures, the "oops, it was my fault entirely as I left my keys in the ignition story"….I hope you feel what I am saying here. |
Theft-proofing Your Van:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=157479 (v.1 - locked)
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=328679 (v.2)
Kill-switching Your Van:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=252830
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=339728
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=169925
GPS locators:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=568723
Vanagon Theft Statistics:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=382790 (if you guys want me to clean it out so you can revive it with strictly how/why/where data, say the word)
Stolen vans data:
2007: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=257131 ~ 1987 Westy; Berkley, CA
2007: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=254483 ~ 1990 tin-top; Oakland, CA (found in San Pablo, CA with tools and gear missing)
2008: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=295271 ~ 1990 Westy; Santa Monica, CA
2009: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=864932 ~ 1985ish Westy; Felton, CA (found)
2009: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=348155 ~ 1984 Westy; El Cajon, CA (towed)
2010: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=409892 ~ Syncro; Seattle, WA
2010: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=433478 ~ 1987 tin-top; New Mexico (keys left inside; found with radio & keys missing)
2010: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=445105 ~ Whitestar Hannover Ed.; Hamburg, Germany
2012: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=502965 ~ 1991 Carat; San Diego, CA (found near border)
2013: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=543190 ~ 1986 tin-top; Bellingham, WA (unlocked with wallet and other items inside; found with wallet, radio & other items missing)
2013: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=547185 ~ 1985 Doka; Langley, BC (found with ignition damage and radio missing)
2013: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=554253 ~ Westy; Lake Kai, WA (home ransacked & burned; title, keys, and van stolen; van found at scrapyard)
2013: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=559141 ~ 16" Doka (unregistered); Tampere, Finland
2013: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=568408 ~ 1986 Syncro tin-top; North Seattle, WA (found with busted locks and stolen crap inside; National Park Pass, iPhone charger, new curtain set, lug nut key missing)
2013: 1985 Westy; Wallingford, WA (found abandoned with roof rack, ShadyBoy awning, camping gear, all cushions, curtains, and rubber mats missing)
2013: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569068 ~ 1991 MV; Seattle, WA (found abandoned with stolen crap inside and personal stuff, radio, roof rack, spare tire missing)
2013: 1984 Vanagon; Seattle, WA
2013: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=575505 ~ 1984 tin-top; Albany, OR (unlocked, push-button starter; found in Vancouver, WA)
2013: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=576020 ~ Syncro Westy; Seattle, WA (found)
2013: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1549708 ~ 1990 Westy; Seattle, WA
70coupyel: 1983 Westy stolen in 2005 at work in SoCal; abandoned 5 blocks away with engine parts missing.
r39o: Westy stolen in San Francisco by drug addicts; van found in Las Vegas two weeks later.
mpabegg: 1990 Carat stolen three times near Seattle, WA; found abandoned each time with stolen crap inside.
Thefts topics added to the FAQ. _________________ ~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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carterzest Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008 Posts: 3842 Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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WOW Thanks for all your hard work KAM!
EXCELLENT
Quote: |
■Thefts
How To Post Your Stolen Van
Vanagon Theft Statistics
Theft-proofing Your Van ~ v.1 - locked
Theft-proofing Your Van ~ v.2
Adding a kill-switch ~ v.1
Adding a kill-switch ~ v.2
Adding a kill-switch ~ v.3
GPS locators |
WOOOT! _________________ Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror! |
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levi Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2005 Posts: 5522 Location: Las Vegas
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Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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carterzest wrote: |
dreamwalker wrote: |
The tweakers have found a way to steal vanagons quickly and easily. They hang out in them and huff starter fluid. (in mine at least) They pop the top and camp out in them for a little while, so they have some private home base of some sort. They run them out of gas and don't refill...so they are not going far. They then take all the stolen stuff...mostly duffle bags, backpacks etc and motorcycle/scooter stuff that they can't sell or trade for drugs and dump it onto the vans for disposal. One van had an entire stolen scooter in it.
They then dump the van near lake city way/east seattle area.
oh and they steal anything of value out of your van.
Add some security to your van if you are in Seattle. I do not expect this to stop soon....they have a good recipe and are repeating it. 5 vans that I know of in the last couple months.
be safe out there |
Folks, ^^^^^^^THIS, is what we are looking for.
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It sure looks like it.
While deciding on a gps system, why not buy a quick detriment to the easy-peasy style of vanagon thefts with a brake lock mechanism?
Available at the flaps, about 50 bucks when I bought mine, and takes literally 2 seconds to put this thing on.
The steering wheels locks are kinda worthless because they can use a hack saw to chop through the steering wheel in 3 seconds and remove those locks. But, with the brake lock, the brake pedal is hardened, the lock is hardened, and these guys are going the easy and convenient route, not stripping cars of valuable parts because that would require too much work! Ha ha, lucky for you guys about that.!
Crappy photo:
_________________ One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way
https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40 |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16501 Location: Brookeville, MD
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12005 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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That thing makes it so that the brake pedal can't be applied, right? The car can still be operated but not stopped?
There are a lot of unfavorable reviews about it being easily bypassed on amazon.
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dreamwalker Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2011 Posts: 12 Location: United States
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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I found it and contacted the owner Remington.
Like the other ones including mine the curtains were drawn...his had a mattress stuffed in the poptop with it mostly closed (the canvas sticking out caught my eye and stopped me cold...noone does that). They stole his stuff including stereo and extra battery, tools etc....
Again, this was found one block off off lake city way at 90th....3 blocks away from where mine was dumped...
Good luck everyone...keep your eyes open....
Did you add this yet? - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...highlight=
~D |
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carterzest Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008 Posts: 3842 Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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dreamwalker wrote: |
I found it and contacted the owner Remington.
Like the other ones including mine the curtains were drawn...his had a mattress stuffed in the poptop with it mostly closed (the canvas sticking out caught my eye and stopped me cold...noone does that). They stole his stuff including stereo and extra battery, tools etc....
Again, this was found one block off off lake city way at 90th....3 blocks away from where mine was dumped...
Good luck everyone...keep your eyes open....
Did you add this yet? - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...highlight=
~D |
You just found this, Today? or, When?
Awesome. Thanks for the update and the details!!!
Quote: |
(the canvas sticking out caught my eye and stopped me cold...noone does that) |
Too funny. That is one of my pet peeves as well and a tell tale sign of a non-owner.
Woot! _________________ Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror!
Last edited by carterzest on Mon Dec 09, 2013 4:25 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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The recent surge of vans stolen are in no way tied to the above folks.
I'm confused Carterzest. Are you saying that there are different kinds of Vanagon thievers? one group for Syncros and one for other models? Reading this thread with interest. _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)
Last edited by DAIZEE on Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:19 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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raoul mitgong Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2009 Posts: 1338 Location: Denver, CO
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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I would think that the thief could just use the parking brake and not ever really miss the foot brake. Wouldn't work on the clutch either. I drove my westy 400 miles round trip Denver to Salida with no clutch.
-d |
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carterzest Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008 Posts: 3842 Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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DAIZEE wrote: |
Since I have introduced my work group to the Syncro, I have a lot of people looking out for me. I find it comical that many of my friends describe to me, many of my other friends Syncro's….this is good dialogue….people notice these things……..they are cohabitating with them in their neighborhoods. They think Syncros are cool. They are beginning to get it.
The recent surge of vans stolen are in no way tied to the above folks.
I'm confused Carterzest. Are you saying that there are different kinds of Vanagon thievers? one group for Syncros and one for other models? Reading this thread with interest. |
Zelda, In no way tied to the above folks meaning, my Coworkers and neighbors who keep an eye out(see full context above). The thieves of recent, mostly do not even realize the difference between the 2wd and 4wd vans, it seems, they are just stealing them for their cargo capacity and the fact that they blend in so well. A vanagon is a very common site in the PNW and most do not think twice when they see one. _________________ Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror! |
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