1/5 Guido’s car has been completely robbed
Guido de Bruijn from Reusel had a huge shock this weekend when he wanted to get into his car. There was a hole in the side of his BMW and the inside was almost completely gutted. It turns out to be a known problem. Traveling criminals steal the contents of cars from this brand in more places in our country. “I would have liked to know that earlier,” says Guido.
Guido discovered the theft on Sunday morning. His car was in the driveway, under a lamppost. But thieves still managed to break into the car unnoticed at night. “There is a hole in the door measuring ten by ten centimeters,” he says.
Thanks to that hole, the thieves were able to open the car without setting off the alarm. They then took the contents of the BMW. “The navigation, the steering wheel, two airbags, the air conditioning: everything has been removed,” Guido summarizes.
He doesn’t understand why he didn’t hear the thieves. His bedroom window looks out onto the driveway. “It looked like they were using a forklift in the car. Why didn’t I hear this? I think it’s really rude that they dare to do this like that.”
“What can you do about it?”
When he started searching on the internet, Guido saw that this happens more often with BMWs. “I saw that something was already known about these types of thefts. I would have liked to know that earlier. But what can you do about it?”
Indeed, he is not the only one to whom this has happened. Especially in the north of the Netherlands, stories have emerged in recent months of BMW owners finding their car in the same way: a hole in the door and a stripped interior. The Northern Netherlands police previously warned about traveling criminal gangs that target BMWs. A few cases are also known in Brabant, although the police do not have any figures.
According to André Bouwman, expert in vehicle crime, the thieves know exactly where to be. BMW doors contain wires for the alarm and central door locking. If thieves make a hole there and cut the wires, the alarm is disabled and the doors open. “Then they have plenty of time to completely empty the car,” says Bouwman.
“If one BMW is cracked, they’re all cracked.”
According to Bouwman, we are seeing this form of burglary more and more often. The market for car parts is enormous. “Thieves find new owners for the items throughout Europe. One wants a new navigation system, the other wants to pimp his car. Airbags are used in a car after a collision.”
According to the expert, it is important that the BMWs get a new alarm system. “If one BMW is squatted, they are all squatted. That is the case now. The insurer, owner and BMW dealer must look for a solution together and provide a new alarm system.”
In any case, this is no longer of any use to Guido. His car is a lost cause. “I think the damage is between 10,000 and 15,000 euros. That is very sad,” he says. “I’ve always enjoyed driving it, so this really hurts.”
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