Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Unisaw on February 28, 2008, 12:05:50 PM

Title: I hate thieves!
Post by: Unisaw on February 28, 2008, 12:05:50 PM
I was recently in Vancouver, BC and had my car broken into during the night.  It is a VW Passat.  Nothing was taken except for a pair of sunglasses and the owner's manual.  The thief broke in by breaking the driver's side lock.

Those of you who have been through this before: where do I take my car to get the lock fixed, my VW dealer or a locksmith?

I hate thieves!  angry
Title: Re: I hate thieves!
Post by: Bogie on February 28, 2008, 12:25:05 PM
Well, I do the combination of salvage yard and locksmith (for new keys), but I've torn doors down before ($25 for glass vs. $300 for glass, I'll spend an hour taking things apart...)
 
Title: Re: I hate thieves!
Post by: Brad Johnson on February 28, 2008, 12:27:54 PM
Depends on whether the locksmith keeps a unit in stock.  Some automotive locks are horribly expensive.  Some not so.  Plus, I think the call for Volkswagen Passat locksets is probably pretty limited.

I'd call a couple locksmiths and see what they can do, but my gut feeling is they are going to send you back to the dealership.

Brad
Title: Re: I hate thieves!
Post by: Balog on February 28, 2008, 12:30:09 PM
How'd they break the lock? I know a screwdriver smacked into the key slot will crack open trunk locks; guess I thought door locks would be more difficult.

Sorry to hear this. [liberal voice]Just remember the poor baby who did it is the real victim.[/LV]
Title: Re: I hate thieves!
Post by: Tallpine on February 28, 2008, 12:38:17 PM
Quote
where do I take my car to get the lock fixed, my VW dealer or a locksmith?

Look in the owner's manual - that should tell you  laugh
Title: Re: I hate thieves!
Post by: Unisaw on February 28, 2008, 01:11:13 PM
Tallpine -- LOL.  I thought it was strange that the scumbag took the owner's manual, but I guess there's a market for such things.

I can't tell exactly how they broke the lock but, if I had to guess, I would say they punched it with a large screwdriver or a chisel.
Title: Re: I hate thieves!
Post by: Declaration Day on February 28, 2008, 01:23:42 PM
Hate to say it but you'll likely end up at the stealership.  VWs are packed with quirky, expensive parts.  Good luck.
Title: Re: I hate thieves!
Post by: Nitrogen on February 28, 2008, 01:24:21 PM
Car thieves are nuts.

When I lived in california, I had my car broken into about 7 times.

The last time, they stole a lint roller.
Title: Re: I hate thieves!
Post by: 280plus on February 28, 2008, 01:36:28 PM
Thieves in San Diego once stole the Craig cassette deck by pulling it out of the slide mount that wasn't mounted to anything and took just the deck, which was useless without the slide mount.  laugh

Wait, it wasn't that funny back then, I was still out a nice casstte deck. The only damn time I didn't lock it in the trunk too.  angry