Odd window issue

[Cam]

Well............

I had a report this morning from sunny Stoke that my 4-door (parked in the garden) had been broken into

But the odd thing is that all the doors were still locked, there is no broken glass anywhere to be seen, nothing has been taken, but the driver's side window is missing!

The only thing I can assume that has happend is that the window has dropped inside the door.

Now, I know how the window mechanism works but I'm asking for ideas based on experience.......

I would imagine there is two possibilities:

1) The window has just dropped on it's own.

2) The window has been tried to be forced down from the top, and it's caused the arm end to pop out of the guide at the bottom of the glass thus causing the window to drop down.

I can't see the car myself until the weekend, but I will hopefully get some more info tonight over the 'phone..............

Any opinions/ideas folks??

[lowedb]

The channel the glass sits in has a bad habit of rotting, doesn't it. Perhaps it's got bad enough for the glass to drop out under it's own weight.

[Peetee]

Is the person that reported it certain the glass is missing? I had a bit of a 'moment' a few weeks ago when I was convinced one of the windows was missing from mine. It turned out that from where I was standing every piece of glass was reflecting in some way except one. Even as I approached it looked like it was missing and I was only a few feet away when I realised I was mistaken. It's quite spooky when it happens!

[bigginger]

Perhaps a very neat thief who carried a vacuum cleaner, dustpan and brush? Seriously, sympathy to you. Was anything nicked/damaged inside?

[Cam]

Is the person that reported it certain the glass is missing? I had a bit of a 'moment' a few weeks ago when I was convinced one of the windows was missing from mine.

It's definately missing as the car was then unlocked by leaning in through the window!

Perhaps a very neat thief who carried a vacuum cleaner, dustpan and brush? Seriously, sympathy to you. Was anything nicked/damaged inside?

Thanks for the sympathy Andrew. Apparently nothing was damaged/nicked from inside but I'll have to check myself once I get home at the weekend.

Odd really but on the 6 times I have had cars broken into outside my house they only ever nicked a tax disc once.......

[bigginger]

Last time I had a car broken into - hang on, the time before the time before last - they stole a bike I'd left in the back (I was only gone for 5 mins, honest, but that's east London for you). Car insurance said it wasn't covered under contents of car, giving no other reason, and the bike insurance said it wasn't covered while out of the house, despite havig sold me the policy on the grounds that, of course, it was, Insurance companies, don'tcha love them? At least you'll only have to deal with them for window replacement, which they're usually OK about.

Have fun

[Kevin]

Strange one that Cam I know its obvious but did somone try the winder to see if anything was going on.

[rayofleamington]

But the odd thing is that all the doors were still locked, there is no broken glass anywhere to be seen

when my last car was broken into (less than 2 weeks ago) the glass was spread everywhere within a 15 foot radius so don't expect someone made a clean break! Therefor it has to have fallen within the door - Thieves rarely try to force a window open (except the clever ones who know how to open a quarterlight) so it's may just be a rotted runner (but it's Stoke so I know what I'd expect)

[Kevin]

so it's may just be a rotted runner (but it's Stoke so I know what I'd expect)

So Ray are you saying they are not good runners in Stoke

[Cam]

Strange one that Cam I know its obvious but did somone try the winder to see if anything was going on.

Not yet, but a 'phone call later on might yield more info........ (here's hoping!).

So Ray are you saying they are not good runners in Stoke

Nah, it's all the oatcakes, writes pies and pikelets!!

Insurance companies, don'tcha love them? At least you'll only have to deal with them for window replacement, which they're usually OK about.

Oh I shan't bother with that. If the window is 'missing' then I'll just get another one and fit it.

[Relfy]

Oh! Well if its fallen in the door - how will you get it out? Turn it upside down and shake it? ;-)

[Cam]

Oh! Well if its fallen in the door - how will you get it out? Turn it upside down and shake it? ;-)

Yes, obviously......... how else??

After a 'phone call......... the plot thickens.........

The window is in place and is fine (just wound down). It winds up and down no problem and stays where it was left. You can't force it down either!

How odd.

So somehow the window has lowered all the way with the car being locked. Any ideas (that are not supernatural!! )???

[Relfy]

ooo-er.

Maybe you left it down one hot sunny day and never noticed? (reverse of the peetee phenomenon - you thought it was there (by the way the light was shining) but it wasn't!) Is it possible a Cam could have done such a thing?

[rayofleamington]

So somehow the window has lowered all the way with the car being locked. Any ideas (that are not supernatural!!

sent u a PM!!

[bigginger]

Did it involve long bits of wire, or certain other tools made from thin sheet steel? Or just the well known facts about the reliability of worn locks and keys? *trying to be discreet, don't think I'm giving away any big secrets to thieves* Quite why the window was wound down if it's the second or third way, I've no idea... Have a look at the top of the door/guttering and around the bottom of the glass for damage - I'll say no more, a nod's as good as a etc etc.

a

[Willie]

There is a lesson for all here, my philosophy has always been to
make it easy for any one to enter my cars but impossible for them
to drive it away. I never once locked the doors on my MGB conver-
tibles over a period of ten years and have never locked the doors
on my present Minor convertible over a further eleven years. I use
my own anti theft system which has always worked so far but I have
avoided broken windows and ripped hoods using this philosophy.
The first thing the thief will do is try the door, if it opens there is no
point in smashing a way in!! Yes, my cars have been 'entered'
approximately six times but never driven away and never damaged.
My daughters MG Metro was like a magnet for thieves and three
times they broke in and smashed the steering lock mechanism but
could not then start the car so at least she still had it!! NO, I will
not broadcast my anti theft method but,as discussed in earlier posts,
take the rotor arm with you!.

[Relfy]

Hmmm...... that hasn't worked for me yet. My (or my mum's car) has been broken into 3 times, by breaking glass and locks - despite the door being unlocked on 2 occasions, and the window wound down on one! And nothing inside to steal either. Thieves aren't always as clever as we'd like them to be.....

[Pyoor_Kate]

The one time I had to laugh, I brought my dad's old Cav down to Bristol to sell it. It was parked on the street while I was in hospital, and my ex came down to find someone trying to break into it (screwdriver in the lock)....

Next to it, and in an easier location to get out was a marginally newer SRi Cavalier; which was no-where near as rusty, nor had it covered over 200,000 miles.

I had my Golf broken into for reasons which escaped me; having knackered the door, the rear quarter light and the paint on the back panel they then stole nothing. Not even the change that was lying on the floor (all of about a quid, I think) nor the moderately okay radio.

Strange people these thief types.

[Cam]

I never once locked the doors on my MGB conver-
tibles over a period of ten years and have never locked the doors
on my present Minor convertible over a further eleven years.

Well, I agree in principle but the kids round our way try doors regularly so I keep my cars locked to avoid them!!

Have a look at the top of the door/guttering and around the bottom of the glass for damage - I'll say no more, a nod's as good as a etc etc.

All OK apparently but I'll check myself this weekend.....

[Gareth]

So did you check...? I've only just caught up with this thread! It sounds like the door was opened in a covert fashion, shall we say, and the window wound down to irritate/confuse?