Car Stereo Stolen

moneysavingmaniac

Hi guys,

Not sure if this is the right place for this but I dont know where else to ask.

So I took my car in for its MOT, I have a decentish radio ~£60-70
You can take the face off but for some reason I forgot to before I put it in.

The car was in for a 6 days (over the weekend)
It was stored in the garage carpark, which is fenced, quite high with spikes.
I went to pick it up yesterday and the face from my radio is gone.
I asked the mechanic and he said he knew nothing about it.

Unsure what to do? If there is anything I can do.

I appreciate I should have taken it off, but that shouldn't automatically mean it gets nicked...

Thanks

NeverEnough

In for 6 days? For an MOT? Longest MOT test I have ever heard of!!

In order to take it further though, you will need to report it to the police as a theft, and then let your insurance deal with it- some don't cover car audio systems though, and the value may make it rather fruitless as the Excess Payable is likely to be around the value of the stereo anyhow. Police unlikely to bother much unfortunately, or devote any resources to investigating - also are there any signs of forced entry? Some insurers won't pay for items stolen if no sign of forced entry either.

Speak to the owner of the garage, not just the mechanic. Point out the stereo face was on when they took the car and it had vanished when you received it back. Keep an eye on free ads and online auction sites to see if it pops up there, it seems a bit of a random and unprofessional theft, though, its easy enough to have removed the whole stereo along with its faceplate.

Choose a better MOT station next time, I think, one that doesn't take 6 days to MOT your car! And wait for the car while its being MOT'ed!!

artbaron

Are you sure you didn't misplace it or the mechanic just stuck it in the glove box or the side pockets? The face wouldn't be of much use on its own anyway but certainly not from a £60 unit. If it definitely has been nicked I'd report it to the garage and ask for compensation (the garage are responsible for your car when it's in their care) but if they refuse just tell them you'll be posting some bad reviews on the web and leave it at that. Don't involve your insurance because your premiums will increase more than the value of the claim (and the amount is so small I'm not sure you'd be able to claim anyway).

OddballJamie

Check the pockets in the rear of the front seats too. Used to be my fav hiding place for face-offs when I was a lad.

If you need to replace, I'm sure I saw a Pioneer/Kenwood one for about £40 on HUKD the other day.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_869073_langId_-1_categoryId_165474

facade

Most people put the face under the front seat.

So most criminals will still smash the window to look for it..........