VW part thefts

[jim_the_chin]

Don’t move this admin as it’s a general point.

I couldn't work out why my VW Golf electrics weren’t working recently and just found my radar sensor has gone from front of the car.  Looking it up it seems to be a four figure job to replace. Quick look around locally shows a couple of cars seem to have suffered similar.  
 

Apparently this a VW thing and you can’t do much about I but I would have either glued the part in or drilled out the screw heads if I had known. 
https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/04/vw-cars-parts-theft-cruise-control-sensors-insurance-golf-passat

[vladi]

Bear in mind that most vehicle collisions result in front end damage and even minor collisions will destroy that sensor.

Hence there is a thriving market for these (on Ebay ) going for circa £78 to those repair shops or private repairers who want to find a cheap replacement. 
Blame the manufacturers for sky-high parts pricing and the perps in our society who want to thieve rather than work for a living.

 

[CPR Dave]

Quote

“As this part is chassis-stamped, it can, once reported to us via the police, be locked so that it is inoperable on another vehicle – and as a result worthless on the black market,” the spokesperson said.

Suggest you report yours stolen to devalue it, and be wary of those cheap parts on ebay that may or may not work!!