Shows and car thieves

[fig]

Volks

I suddenly can't find the thread where people were talking about scaly types photographing registration plates at the Beetle 75th event, but this subject probably deserves its own thread, so here goes.

There is at least one owner of a beautiful, original bus who no longer attends shows because of suspicious activity around the registered address of the vehicle after it was photographed at a Kult kamp-out and the pics were published online. I suspect there are many more owners of great ACVWs who don't show their cars in public or participate in events for the same reason.

The ACVW show scene in SA has been growing steadily over the past few years. It would be truly sad if show attendances were to drop because of fear of criminals.

The simple solution, as I see it, is we should all start removing out plates as soon as we arrive at a show, and replace them with a custom/personalised plate until the show is over and we drive back home.

That should make it a bit more difficult for the scalies to take notes.

And I also think we should not be afraid to accost people who are behaving suspiciosuly at shows. Photographing reg plates is definitely suspicious and should be challenged.

[eben]

This one?
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... 40&t=17420

[Blitzkrieg]

Here is the thread - http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... 40&t=17420

What about posting pictures of cars at shows on this forum? There are quite a few people who believe that this site is apparently being used to track vehicles down, then they are stolen....

Paranoia or is there any truth to the matter?

Last night I was PMed by a forum member asking that I remove pictures of his car, even though there were no numberplates or whatever on the car that could lead to a positive ID...Thread was subsequently removed...

So does this mean in the future we'd have to ask anyone before taking pics of their ride?

And go thru all pictures and remove license plates?

And I also think we should not be afraid to accost people who are behaving suspiciosuly at shows. Photographing reg plates is definitely suspicious and should be challenged.

Remember that your license disk has your registration number on it too - So if there are no plates on the car, and someone really wants to get details, they could attempt to take pictures of the license disk, that behaviour is real suspicious and would be noticed at once - therefore they could be confronted "properly"

[Chris]

I had a set of plates made that says AIRCOOLED which I put on the car when at shows(I did forget at the last one).You can also put your disc in a holder that is easily removable and then put it back once you are on the road again.

The other problem is that the ACVW community isn't that big and most of the people know each other.They also know where most of the workshops are and who does work on Beetles and Busses.

I know that a couple of forum members' cars have been stolen,but that has happened far away from shows.A lot of cars have been stolen in the suburbs like the last one in Kensington,so it's wise to invest in some sort of anti-theft device.

[beetlepower]

the cheapest and easiest option could be duct tape over the plates and on the window in front of the disc...

[JBug]

Its really sad that we have to go thru all this trouble (removing disks and plates) cos of a few uncle fcukers in SA
There isnt really any solution to this madness, if they want your car, they will somehow get it and there`s hardly anything you can do to prevent it from happening....

[karmakoma]

Guys, maybe I am too naive, but if you drive the car anywhere, your plates are viewable far and wide for all to see. If you park at a shop, parts store wherever, ditto. Should you choose never to drive your car, why bother keeping it anyway?

And apart from a few special cars and busses, who would want to steal a garden variety bus or bug anyway? Compare the market value relative to new cars (even in parts), where is the incentive ? Best advice, ALWAYS be safe and fit some sort of anti-theft device. If your car happens to be a little more special , fit tracking. all of course imho...

I did see this shady character operating from a blue squareback taking pictures all day

[Dirk]

Chris, you gave those Aircooled plates to with Christn.

[Chris]

I had another set made.

[eben]

How about taking a picture of these picture takers next time? Then we know to be on guard if we spot them.

[dsan]

I'm not buying this, if that's the case then, it's amazingly easy to grab data from the log books held by the police.

dont forget, with each database entry, a log is created which contains:

- the id of the police person who accessed that log
- a date, time and possibly location

so it won't take much to find out who accessed it and go from there.

[JBug]

dsan, they are thieves.....they are very learned in all areas and have the right contacts.
A guy once told me that he could take my car away with a magnet if he wanted to....I drove away very fast

[dsan]

yah my point exactly, if someone wants your car, it will be taken.

posting images on a forum doesn't mean it's made any easier for the tealeaves!

[beetlepower]

Guys, maybe I am too naive, but if you drive the car anywhere, your plates are viewable far and wide for all to see. If you park at a shop, parts store wherever, ditto. Should you choose never to drive your car, why bother keeping it anyway?

And apart from a few special cars and busses, who would want to steal a garden variety bus or bug anyway? Compare the market value relative to new cars (even in parts), where is the incentive ? Best advice, ALWAYS be safe and fit some sort of anti-theft device. If your car happens to be a little more special , fit tracking. all of course imho...

I did see this shady character operating from a blue squareback taking pictures all day

it was me in the blue squareback...

[karmakoma]

I know it was you Beetlepower. the remark was

hence the