Key Theft

[Dulac]

Some vermin stole my wife's handbag yesterday containing our address, my spare Antara key, etc. Has anyone else experienced this and perhaps knows the best way to resolve the security issue?

[bigjohnsparky]

Sorry to here this Dulac
Locks and tools locksmith based at dartford will change the combination of all house lock barrels and new keys issued give them a call and they may be able to do it tomorrow if they are not to busy then all you have to do is remove lock or barrel Thame them to shop and hopefully give barrels locks new combinations then you just have to refit locks or barrels.
Or get them out to make house safe tonight 
disconnect battery over night as a short term measure 

locksmithandsecurity.co.uk/dartford/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn7uCluq74gIVAZ3tCh1BiQuFEAAYASAAEgJl0_D_BwE

ive sent you a private message 

[victor]

Sorry to hear about that Dulac, just shows how vulnerable we all are with respect to thieving, robbing stealing gits, makes you want to fit alligator jaws inside the wife's bag but on reflection that would probably be me that got bitten when I was rummaging in there after her pan drops or summat.
BJS seems to have covered all the bases with the house, I remember when we bought this house the estate agent only gave me the one back door key but I knew of at leat one other key in existence so I bought a new lock barrell and fitted it myself, got 3 new keys with it as well.

The thief probably only wanted any money that was in the bag and threw the rest in the bin but it makes you angry, dinnit.

[Dulac]

Thank you for your kind advice, gentlemen. It appears to be a common problem in the major European train stations, where they work in organised teams - one to distract and one to steal. No doubt there is a big boss somewhere living in luxury.

[Dulac]

My VX dealer has suggested that he orders a replacement key, de-programmes my existing key then re-programmes both keys to render the stolen key incapable of starting the vehicle. It could still be used to open the door (but there is not much within to steal anyway) but he suggests that replacing the locks etc. would be too expensive. As it stands, the cost of the key and reprogramming, plus a service charge to Vauxhall to access their security software, including VAT is £314. There will be a certain discount because of Service Club membership but nothing can be done unless the key number is available, which would have been provided on a card when I bought the vehicle.

[victor]

Gutted for you Dulac, must say I never thought about that aspect with a stolen key. I agree that replacing all the locks etc would be too expensive and what the garage proposes makes sense. So they have to pay a service charge to Vauxhall (or Peugeot / PSA) to access the software, it's understandable because if it was too easy to re-programme a vehicle we'd all be up in arms about that. But I think that's going to be a big issue going forward with the independent garages if they have to pay substantial sums to access the various dealers diagnostic programmes, they'll be frowen out of a lot of repair work so not good news for us. What's it matter anyway, with all the electric cars we'll only need a test bulb and a multi-meter won't we?

Just thinking, a lot of insurance companies offer you free key replacement but I wonder how they'd feel if they had to pay for all the locks and hardware being changed or do they place that on the policy holder otherwise they won't cover theft?

[Dulac]

The full implications of replacing everything stolen a week ago have still not been resolved. It has been an interesting (and depressing) experience and has revealed our total reliance upon online services to make any progress whatsoever - whether good or bad. I decided to write a formal letter, signed in ink and posted with a stamp, about one aspect of our losses and it seemed to provoke a quite different, perhaps more considered, response from the firm which received it. I am retired and able to devote days to the task; for anyone in full-time work I don't know how they would manage. In the case of just the car key, £50 in VAT will be thrown to the clowns in Westminster to p**s up the wall in any way they choose. Now, that is a crime!