MoT woes. Sorry your car has....

[Redline]

...been stolen!

If you think getting a failure on your MoT is a problem, then Halfords can go one better.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...ews/car-stolen-halfords-mot-rochdale-14340567

I can't imagine this is the first time it has been done and suspect it got reported because it is Halfords rather than the smaller Indy test station, but still, something you wouldn't expect (or deserve for using the aforementioned centre).
So, how do MoT testers prevent someone from doing the same? Most do the MoT, like Tony, in a big space with the doors open while the engine is running.

 

[hard top]

I can't imagine this is the first time it has been done

A builder mate of mine's van got nicked, full of all his kit, as he went into the office to ask them to open the roll door so he could drive in for his MOT.

 

[Sean d]

When I contracted for Virgin Media we all met on a big job and one of the lads left his keys in the ingnition, we where all working on pulling a cable and someone shouted "where the f*** is Chris going" at that moment he popped up and shouted oh s***, as his van dissapeard down the road, one of the vans gave pursuit and they ditched it in a car park.

 

[Redline]

A builder mate of mine's van got nicked, full of all his kit, as he went into the office to ask them to open the roll door so he could drive in for his MOT.

Nowhere is safe.
Had he left the keys in?

 

[hard top]

Had he left the keys in?

Yep ....

 

[Redline]

Yep ....

Doh

Bet he won't do that again.

 

[t-tony]

Not likely, well not at this time of year. Door rolled down, heating on and exhaust extractor earning it's keep.
There is another way though. A few years ago a guy booked a Honda in for a full service, it was a bit of a nail and needed quite a lot for the service, discs and pads etc. Big bill. He was contacted and told how much and he said he could not collect till pay day, could we keep hold of the car. We did, and on about the 4 day I happened to mention that he must've saved up and been and paid?
In fact he'd been and collected it with a spare key.

Tony.

 

[hard top]

one of the vans gave pursuit and they ditched it in a car park.

At the same garage as I mentioned above (that is owned by a mate of mine) he had a BMW that was for sale nicked off the fourcourt and one of his lads saw it, jumped on his motorbike and gave chase.
The car was dumped and the thieves legged it.

 

[andyglym]

Not likely, well not at this time of year. Door rolled down, heating on and exhaust extractor earning it's keep.
There is another way though. A few years ago a guy booked a Honda in for a full service, it was a bit of a nail and needed quite a lot for the service, discs and pads etc. Big bill. He was contacted and told how much and he said he could not collect till pay day, could we keep hold of the car. We did, and on about the 4 day I happened to mention that he must've saved up and been and paid?
In fact he'd been and collected it with a spare key.

Tony.

Ten out of ten for effort.

 

[Bozzy]

In the early 90's I left my pride and joy which was a blue Astra.......yes i know but I loved that car, at the trusted garage we had used for years, for an m.o.t.
Left it parked on the road opposite the garage, locked and obviously left the key with mechanic.
Went back later that day to collect it following the call saying it passed.
Got in the car, drove up the road and then realised my nice new stereo was missing, along with all my cassettes .
Went back to the garage thinking it was a prank as the m.o.t tester liked to joke and would usually sing that famous Rod Stewart track "I am failing" Whilst poking around my car .
They said it wasn't there when they got in it and that I left it unlocked. My word against there's .

 

[Gail]

Look confident enough and you can nick a car from all sorts of places. Many years ago when the Motor Show was at the NEC Land Rover had one (I can’t remember which model) stolen from the stand. It always got very chaotic when the show closed on the final day so a when guy turned up with paperwork saying he had to drive it to a dealership as it had been sold they just handed over the keys.