280SL Stolen in Los Angeles

[peterm]

have you though about tying a pitbull to the chain as well?  (one without lipstick that is)

[scoot]

quote:Originally posted by peterm

have you though about tying a pitbull to the chain as well?  (one without lipstick that is)

Or leaving a pitbull in the car?

[hill]

quote:Originally posted by peterm

have you though about tying a pitbull to the chain as well?  (one without lipstick that is)

No. I like animals to much to do that. There are a few politicians  that could fit the bill

[hill]

quote:Originally posted by scoot

quote:Originally posted by peterm

have you though about tying a pitbull to the chain as well?  (one without lipstick that is)

Or leaving a pitbull in the car?

No, but I had a lab tht laid down next to my toolbox at work and would not let other mechanics "borrow" tools.

[Mike Hughes]

quote:Originally posted by hill

quote:Originally posted by peterm

have you though about tying a pitbull to the chain as well?  (one without lipstick that is)

No. I like animals to much to do that. There are a few politicians  that could fit the bill

Ah, politics!  "Poli" - the Greek word for many, and "tics" - grasping, blood sucking insects!

[68_white]

I would agree with you about the bloodsucking tendencies of politicians. However, "poli" here means "civil". "Politics" is the process which civil maters are organized and conducted. I know many would say it's all Greek to me. Sorry I got way off the subject.

Anyway, the best way to keep thieves away, is to keep the car out of site totally or in site of many people. Locked garage with alarm when home and when parked in my direct site or in site of many others. Never valet park.

[Tom Colitt]

Thanks for the tips. Only yesterday, was I able to get my car released from police impound for over $500 in fees.

To answer some of the earlier questions: Unfortunately, my experience and research on this subject has taught me that these guys probably are not selling the parts (both tops, hard top was fully restored- how do you value that!?, exterior chrome and nice Red taillight and euro headlights, instruments, dash pads, excellent original visors......) brand new Blue center ash tray (NLA) purchased from MB a few years ago and various other parts. I feel lucky that they were apparently nervous enough to stop, before stealing the doors, hood, trunk lid, seats, glove box...

I am insured for an agreed value, so I should be covered. My main concern is that, I will of course be repairing my car myself as I had restored it originally. I had many hours into the hard top alone. I'm not sure that my insurance company will be interested in an estimate coming from me, so I was thinking of contacting my fellow restorer Scott Melnik. Does anyone have his phone number?

[scoot]

quote:Originally posted by Tom Colitt

I am insured for an agreed value, so I should be covered. My main concern is that, I will of course be repairing my car myself as I had restored it originally. I had many hours into the hard top alone. I'm not sure that my insurance company will be interested in an estimate coming from me, so I was thinking of contacting my fellow restorer Scott Melnik. Does anyone have his phone number?

For insurance purposes, I wonder if you might be able to get a repair/restoration estimate from the MB Classic Center...   At least you could be guaranteed that it would be a high number and that you could have the work done (or do the work yourself) for far less...

[kman68]

Tom:  Sorry to hear about your car, glad it was recovered though.  My car is in Scott Melnick's shop in Malibu and I have the number at my office.  I'll get it to you later today.

[kman68]

Scott Melnick:  310-456-5000

[hauser]

Tom, the ashtray is available through SLS in Germany but it's a pricey reproduction.  If I run across the ebay auction I'll post it here.

[Tom Colitt]

Thanks for the responses and good wishes. I have recovered from the shock and already been busy buying parts on ebay. Everythime I look at my car, I think about how lucky I am certain parts were not taken. It really looks like they were in a rush to get rid of the car once they found out I had a tracking device and had secured the outer belt line chrome with special torx screws.

Meanwhile I would like to post some fairly uniquely identifying marks about the parts that were stolen, in the very unlikely event that a Pagoda surfaces for sale, with these items installed. The light Blue metallic (DB906) hard top will likely have been re-painted to match whatever car they stole my parts for, but the top had a MBUSA Mercedes star sticker stuck to the inside of the driver's side glass. It did not have the Star pointing straight up and down, as it should be.

I had refinished the center wood console myself and it was in quite good condition, but I used a medium brown, satin finish, not like the high gloss coming from the factory these days. Also, it had a brand new ash tray with the Blue vinyl installed. As far as I know, SLS only carries the Black ones now, but I do believe they are left over stock from MB, not re-productions (I could be wrong). I do not think my soft top (Blue canvas), bumpers (Euro style), Euro head lights, very good Red tail lights, front grill, etc. would be distinguishable from other cars, only that the front bumper had been re-chromed and not yet painted inside with the light tan paint. Maybe if all these parts show up together on a car for sale in Los Angeles, it might be more conspicuous. I also had a White horn pad to go with my White steering wheel, which was not stolen. It might look odd if they used it on a Black steering wheel. If anyone sees a car like that for sale, I sure would love to hear from you and rush to take a look...

Thanks, Tom

[al_lieffring]

Tom

Your stolen hard top will have the body number stamped on the lip under the rear glass. If you post your body number, maybee someone in the group might spot it if it turns up for sale somewhere.

[marti]

Sorry to hear abour your car!  I live in Orange County, California and needed a good wake-up call to watch my car when I take her out.  Luckly, she is parked in the garage behind my house so she's somewhat safe.  I should tell you though, I just bought a blue soft top off of ebay  within the last two weeks from a guy in Los Angeles.  I have it sitting here beside me because it just arrived.  I would be happy to give you the name and the ebay number if you want to check it out, or send pictures of the top.  marti
 

[Tom Colitt]

I just returned from a trip to Berlin where I came across a very nice front chrome grill in Los Angeles, that was described as having a very small ding near the top of the grill. I was the high bidder, but the guy wanted $950, so I asked if I could see it when I returned to L.A. Yesterday I met up with the guy on Doheny Drive, just outside Beverly Hills. I asked him how long he had had the grill and why he had sold another grill a month earlier on ebay, etc. When he said that he'd had the grill for years and that he and his buddies "restore" 280SLs, I told him that this was my grill that was stolen from my car and that I could identify it by the chisel marks where i had attempted to remove the ding from the inside. I told him that he had the option of giving me the grill back or that I would call the cops immediately. After a few more minutes of making excuses that he didn't need to steal parts, he gave me my grill back. One could clearly see that he knew that the grill wasn't clean because an innocent guy wouldn't have let it go just that easily. I am happy I got such an expensive part back, but I am still upset that these guys will probably keep at it and maybe even hit me again....

I'm just sick of these guys stealing my car and parts again and again....

Marty. I just saw your post and would be interested in hearing who sold you that Blue soft top....

[abe280SL]

Why not have told him that you would be back in a few hours with the money and have the cops around the corner waiting to arrest him?  We just let a criminial go that will do it again and again.
abe

[114015]

Hello Tom,

Sad to hear the whole story - which I followed with much interest.
I think my heartbeat would stop if my car got stolen like that.
Happy to hear that you recovered the car - and the grille now.

However, I don't think that should be the end of the story.
These guys were and are criminal - if I were you I would report it to the Police. Perhaps there is someone who you can trust or discuss the report making ( "Anzeige") in beforehand.
These guys should be stopped otherwise they just continue.

On the other hand ... once your car is complete again you have to take it away from just parking in the streets.
What you need is a somehow safe garage etc.
Otherwise this is going to happen to you again and again.
I'd store it safe under the bed's pillow ....

Just my 2 cents & good luck

Achim

[Wes Bender]

Tom - I think that the CHP does a lot of the stolen car ring investigative work in CA.  I'd make sure that they have all the details of your case, including the name and location of the guy that had your grill.

Cheers,

[jaxxonia]

Tom,

I am really sorry to hear about your loss.  That statement almost makes the loss sound human, but that's not far from the truth.  I know how much time, effort & love you put into your cars.  For the rest of us that have not suffered this unfortune, how does your insurance company treat this situation considering that your beautiful blue baby was parked on the street??  My Grundy policy insists that I have a locked garage for my car.  I hope your policy causes no headache.  You already have enough heartache.  See you soon, Tom

Jackson

[RickM]

Thanks for the tips. Only yesterday, was I able to get my car released from police impound for over $500 in fees.

Jeez, you were pretty much robbed twice.

I hope you find a way to bring these guys to justice and perhaps recover more parts. Dollars to donuts the guy had your other parts in his possession.

[Tom Colitt]

Thanks guys, for your advice and sympathy. I considered carefully what I would do here. I have too much experience with the police's help (more lack thereof) and figured the proof I had that this was my grill (probably still had my fingerprints all over it too from years of handling the grill, but I doubt they would have dusted it for prints).

I probably will make a few phone calls to the police and  sheriff, but it will likely end as always, with more trouble for me and little interest on their side. My insurance company understandably tried to drop me after the whole car was stolen a year and a half ago. They claimed it was not garaged, which it is 90% of the time at my workshop. When at home, I sometimes have no extra space in the garage and so I've had to leave it in the driveway or tightly parked between two cars. Lately, I had been removing all the lugs nuts from one wheel. That's how it was when they stole just the grill again a few months ago. I didn't even report that to police or insurance because I knew they wouldn't like it. I like Bob Hands's idea of riveting the grill to the body and have now used other theft preventive screws and bolts to prevent theft when the car is out and about. I'm still looking for a tracking system that offers more complete coverage than my Teletrac system and my Alarm system which is often more headache than protection.....I will start engraving parts for identification and suggest everyone do this....

[xcashewx]

i agree! people WILL steal these cars. ive caught people before trying to slim jim their way in my baby before.
just thought id post some tips to protecting your car, the theives might mess stuff up if they try to steal it, but at least the car will be there

1. kill swtiches (ghost switch, ravelco, whatever), also when ever you leave take your main coil wire. No ignition = no starting!
2. steering wheel lock (more of a deterent to newbie theives, experinced theives laugh at these)
3. pedal locks ( you will sure hear it if they try taking to flatbead it away, again newbie deterent, but what ever buys your car time)
4. alarm- pretty much pointless except to maybe wake you or someone else up, if they didnt disable it already.
5. engraving parts- far by one of the most important things to have, if the unthinkable happens. i engraved all "major" parts with my chassis#(a-arms, axles,panels, driveshaft, most of the parts people could steal and say they were "salvaged". because lets say you find a part with that number, take it to the police and show them your car's title and you have proof of the VIN's, theif in jail.
6. wheel boots- if you dont have the luxury of a garage, use these especially if your car sits in the road or whatever. because these wont let the car move at all without distrubing a lot of sleeping people, make sure they are the ones that cover that hub cap so they dont just swap out your wheels. you might say well they will use liquid Nitrogen to break them off, but trust me its not that quiet and easy to hammer one of these off your car.
7. home security- place cameras, real or fake outside the perimeter of your house. they make fake ones that look real with the red LED and everything. and these work wonders. this proboly isnt the theives first rodeo, and he definatly doesnt want someone to have a picture of his face.

these may sound a little overboard, but what when it comes down to it what would you rather have?
Pagoda or No Pagoda

[graphic66]

My girlfriends sister lives in LA, Hermosa Beach on the Strand. The nieghbor  behind her had a very late model 230SL her Mom had bought new. She drove it semi daily and left it outside of here house just two doors down from Marthas restaurant. I would always check the car out, it was very unmolested and it was always unlocked, even the trunk. I always thought somebody would surely steal those perfect all red taillights.
  Everything disappears at the beach if left unattended. Sure enough one day a van pulled up, someone got out, hotwired the car and drove away. It probably would have helped locking the car and placing the ignition key switch in the position with the column lock. It was all on security camera of the nieghbors but it was to low res to read the plate numbers on the van, they were probably stolen plates anyways. She did get the car back about a month later, well the shell of the car was found under a bridge. It was a silver car and I don't think the lady really knew the value of it and just didn't bother to lock it securely at all. I bet it all ended up on EBAY.
  Great advice on engraving the parts. I always scratch my name in my tools when I buy them. I am suprised how many times they turn up in a friends tool box. I like to ask them where they got it, they almost always have a story, not even knowing they had borrowed it or I had just left it behind. I then reply with "Then why did you write my name on it" and take my tool back. I am getting an engraver and going to work. I also write my name with marker inside of things with my contact info. I just did that with my Becker Grand Prix Radio, you never know. 
   We are a small group and with being able to get info of a theft out there among us quickly we may be able to catch more thiefs.

[Tom Colitt]

Yes. I agree that all the things you both mentioned are good deterrent's or identifiers. I've used most of them, yet still didn't hear the (probably) tow truck that picked up my car (these things could put that rack under your front or rear wheels within 30 seconds and be gone). I'm quite convinced that many of these thefts are by tow truck... I need to get a more sensitive tilt sensor on my alarm system that would register when the vehicle is lifted and then automatically notify my Teletrac system....

[dseretakis]

Those low lives make me sick!  Could you perhaps set it up as a bait car and catch this filth for once and for all?