VW badge theft in ED - advice on next steps

[KB77]

Hi all, 

We recently had the front badge stolen from our VW Golf, the car sensor is kept behind the badge and was also stolen. This was two weeks ago and since then have noticed other VWs around ED had also had the same issue, a badge and sensor stolen. 

We've been quoted over £1000 from our local VW garage to replace these.

 I am aware this has been going on for some time in South London generally (https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/04/vw-cars-parts-theft-cruise-control-sensors-insurance-golf-passat), which leads me to think...

a.) It's VWs issue for this terrible design fault so why should we pay

b.) If we do get a new sensor and badge the same thing will surely happen again, thus leading to further costs down the line

I wonder if anyone else who had this issue is on the group? And how they dealt with VW? They are being very unhelpful and in our most recent correspondence said we 'should have kept the car in a garage' 🫠

[Pugwash]

Have you reported this to your Safer Neighbourhood Team?  Might be the start of a new 'crime wave'. What area are you?

The Dulwich Hill SNT quarterly meeting is being held on Monday 10th March 5.30 - 6.30 pm at Christ Church Barry Road. Earlier than normal due to shift pattens,

[jim_the_chin]

Yes I posted about mine being stolen last week, I got quoted 1900+vat just for the part, Labour 300 and another 300 or so calibration. Pretty much a write off.  And as you say doubtless will be lifted again. Not the only design fault I’ve had on this car with no recall (water ingress). Steering clear of VWs from now on. 

[d walker]

I had my  badge and sensor stolen about 9 months ago, on a Mercedes,  so it's possibly not just VW? And it was £1600 to put right.  I did inform the SNT at the time 

[ed26]

I noticed 4 gone in a short stretch of Bellenden Road alone this weekend. I had no idea it was to do with the tech and thought that it was a retro Beastie Boys thing. Showing my age. Sorry I can only find a Facebook link if you are too young to remember this: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=578367166664170

Totally agree that it's a bad design flaw, and I bet the actual cost of the parts to VW is minimal so they could easily cough up some of the replacement costs. It's depressing that someone can go along a street popping these things off cars with very little worry about being prosecuted.

[DuncanW]

I blame this guy

 

[OG25]

This happened us too for second time in a year. 1300 to fix. Selling the car and never buying vw again. 
Both times no response from police behind crime number for insurance. 
you can call vw and have the part made useless by giving reg number if any solace 

[kford]

This kind of thing? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/286379655798?

 

Edited March 4 by kford

[Hugo D]

Hello,  I am a journalist for the Sunday Times investigating VW car badge's being stolen for a news story. I saw this thread and would love to speak to any of those who posted who had this happen to them. It doesn't have to be a VW, I'm also interested in covering other car owners/makes hit by this crime.

My contact details are below - please get in touch if you can help or if you have heard about someone who has fallen victim to this locally  give them my details and let them know I would like to speak to them.

Particularly interested in hearing from @KB77 @jim_the_chin @d walker @ed26 @OG25  on this thread if you could email or call me.

Thanks!

Hugo

Hugo Daniel

Reporter

The Sunday Times

07306356469

[email protected]

[CPR Dave]

Hi Hugo, do you happen to live round here? There are loads of VWs with missing front badges once you start looking for them. If you left a note under the windscreen wiper of each one you see with the above message I'm sure someone would be interested in discussing this with you.

[Sue]

Someone or some people stole  the Nissan  badges from my ancient Micra, which definitely did not have anything of value lurking beneath them, including the car.

Not sure if this was  their  stupidity,  random vandalism, or the badges had some intrinsic value of which I was totally unaware.

It was on two separate occasions.

Edited June 13 by Sue

[Penguin68]

It used to he that car badges were stolen just as trophies. Their value resided in their display value to demonstrate - well, something. Nerve perhaps. 

[jim_the_chin]

The Sunday Times: recycling Guardian articles from last year 

https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/04/vw-cars-parts-theft-cruise-control-sensors-insurance-golf-passat