Got stopped by the Hertfordshire Police last night. They’d obviously done their Tax, MOT and insurance checks because all they did was ask my name, when I told them and it tallied up I was free to go. They explained that because so many Range Rovers are being stolen in the area, they’re stopping them to check.

Seems a bit of a ‘after the horse has bolted scenario’ but at least they’re trying.

It beggars belief that the millions spent designing these cars and the high purchase price that this isn’t sorted in development. Perhaps then, we wouldn’t be exposed to these eye watering insurance premiums

Good on them, at least they are aware of what is going on and prepared to try to do something about it First time FFRR owner

At last, they have done something positive. overfinch modified

SS.Lyria wrote:

Seems a bit of a ‘after the horse has bolted scenario’

The assumption being that car thieves will dutifully pull in when motioned to do so by the rozzers?

There is a flaw in that plan methinks. 2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
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I'm not sure what you are advocating to be the correct police action there Stuart? The police shouldn't bother stopping cars because thieves wouldn't stop... the Daily mail readers would be apoplectic First time FFRR owner

I don’t think Plod will expect the thieves to put their hands up and utter the words ‘it’s a fair cop’

But it may possibly
a) The word will get around and the thieves Might reconsider (doubtful)
b) A chase ensues and the vehicle doesn’t reach it’s intended target (possible collateral damage)

Nothing they can do about the initial theft, but more could be done on prevention and action after reporting of said theft.

At least this a step in the right direction. The worrying thing having seen a few interviews with top LR Bods recently, is this has only come about after some gentle persuasion from the said Top Bods

Hi, it's more of a tactic, if word gets around the Sweeney are tugging Range Rovers then maybe it'll have an effect.

I mean no self respecting "booster" going to go down without a scrap. OK, so against the Scooby Squad no chance to get away unless a handy field to go over, but Mr Plod in his Astra, on ya way son before ya get yourself hurt, big boys at play.

Andy Fuji White / Jet 2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster

I still reckon Mr bean had the right idea, just remove the steering wheel.

^^ My first registered car was a 1938 Vauxhall Model J 14hp. The door locks didn’t work so to protect it, I would put it into reverse and remove the gearlever (it was retained by a bayonet connection like a light bulb - not screw-in like the USA). Then I locked the gearlever in the boot. Ron B. VK2OTC
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Barmybrummie wrote:

I still reckon Mr bean had the right idea, just remove the steering wheel.

That's what we do with our Defender...

Late 1960s my Dad had a Vauxhall Viva HA series. Driving around Ironbridge one day the gear stick snapped leaving a tiny stub. Luckily he had a pair of locking grips in his tool box in the boot of the car.
Needless to say, it was a great anti-theft device - simply select reverse, remove the grips and take them with you and there's no chance of changing gear.

Can go one better and the thieving came prepared

When I was 18/19 I had a VW polo and decided to go out and buy a peugeot 306, I didn't get round to selling the polo as the 306 was typically french and always broke down so polo came out as backup.

Every thursday for 3 weeks running some tried to nick it 1st time they did the door above the lock but must have been disturbed. Quick trip to the scrap yard and VW's had armoured plates you could fit in those days which covered the damage, free fix

2nd thursday
they put the front quarter light through only to discover no steering wheel fitted , HT leads were also off

3rd thursday
I'd noticed a pattern so stayed up and it was it down with rain, sure enough at around 1am a noisy car shot up the road then went noticeably quiet, then you could hear it splashing through the puddles on the private track at the rear of our house, sure enough 4 little chavs had turned up to nick the car and only turned up in a stolen MK2 XR2i, one of the rear seat passengers has come armed with a steering wheel . While all this is unfolding I'm on 999 and south yorkshires most useless turn up, theives scatter but are aprehended.

Caught pretty much red handed one denied being there so had to take a day off work and go to an ID parade and pick him out, after all that they all got no more than a slap on the wrist. Current
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Actually Rover had a great idea they used on their 800 series rovers. Now I'm not sure their reason behind it and what the their intentions were for fitting it on the driver's seat but I'm sure it would work very well if fitted on the cars of today.
I used to be a car valeter back in the day and valeted many 800 series Rovers, fastbacks, Sterling's, etc etc and they all had a key slot down on the side of the drivers seat by the door. My belief was that it was to lock the seat in to the driver's preferred position so no one else could move it. But me being me, I moved the seat as far forward as possible and the tilted the back rest forward against the steering wheel and locked them place with the key and the seat would not move at all, even the back rest. Used the the key to unlock it and it all moved again, I thought that was such a brilliant idea that I wanted to buy a Rover 800 series, but being only 19 at the time that wasn't going to happen was it?