Recent break-in attempt
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From: Florida
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Recent break-in attempt
Last night I had the car out of the garage while stowing some things in the garage attic. Overnight, (although never heard anything), someone attempted to get into my truck (nothings in there). In their process, they manage to rip the trunk handle piece that has the attached chrome strip completely off. In the attampt, they also managed to leave a smal scratch of about an inch that protrudes down to the metal. I have looked at alot of the online sites that people have suggested on here with no luck. I was wondering if anyone else has had to replace this part and where they found it. I was planning to do the paint touch up myself, but after reading some of the threads, I think I'll fork the money out and let the dealer do it right. Thanks for any help in advance.
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Actually the trunk is the most popular place to store valuables in a car. Most people think that because there are no windows for people to see what's inside, and glass to "smash-and-grab", their valuables are safer. Thieves know this, so it's also the #1 place most thieves look for valuables as well.
Judging by the "sloppy" and unsuccessful job on your car, I'm guessing the thieves in this case were amatures and/or not very experienced. A professional can usually pop open the trunk successfully with ease (especially with no time constraint or alarm going off, as in your case).
And even though you didn't have valuables in your car at the time, unless the thief stalks you and observes you for a while, they have no idea what you have in there at the time. To a skilled thief, popping a trunk is easy and a simple task (at least in most model cars anyway), and if there's nothing valuable in the trunk, he/she can just make a quick getaway and move on to their next target.
It sucks that your car was hit. One does not expect this to happen at their house, much less to their car. Hope you get it fixed soon!
Judging by the "sloppy" and unsuccessful job on your car, I'm guessing the thieves in this case were amatures and/or not very experienced. A professional can usually pop open the trunk successfully with ease (especially with no time constraint or alarm going off, as in your case).
And even though you didn't have valuables in your car at the time, unless the thief stalks you and observes you for a while, they have no idea what you have in there at the time. To a skilled thief, popping a trunk is easy and a simple task (at least in most model cars anyway), and if there's nothing valuable in the trunk, he/she can just make a quick getaway and move on to their next target.
It sucks that your car was hit. One does not expect this to happen at their house, much less to their car. Hope you get it fixed soon!
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The trunk is monitored with most OEM security systems that I'm familiar with. So is the hood. In any event, as was stated, most of these cars don't have folding rear seats. The tow-away alarm on 2005 and earlier Benz cars would also trigger if there was a lot of suspension movement because of weight shifting around the car (I know this from experience).
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From: Virginia
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Your right, most likely kids. The trunk is usually the easiest point of entry and in most cars you can then get into the car through the rear seat area. Security systems tend to ignore the trunk and only put sensors on the doors, so going in that way wouldn't trigger an alarm. The problem here being that most Benz's don't have the folding rear seat option, not to mention there isn't even a key hole back there do knock out to gain entry anyways lol.
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Found out that there was a string of car break-in's this weekend. Not sure if was the same people though. I guess good for whoever it was that I did not hear them, because FL has no law against protecting property, and I shot expert. 
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Ah indeed there is. Mine was seriously covered in dirt so it was as black as the car, but it is there lol.
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The trunk is monitored with most OEM security systems that I'm familiar with. So is the hood. In any event, as was stated, most of these cars don't have folding rear seats. The tow-away alarm on 2005 and earlier Benz cars would also trigger if there was a lot of suspension movement because of weight shifting around the car (I know this from experience).
do we still have a tow away alarm now?
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Nope. The tow-away alarm trigger was so troublesome that MB eliminated it. There was a disable switch on the dash and if you forgot to press it after shutdown, any little wiggle of the car would set it off. And if you have Tele-Aid, the system calls them and they call you before notifying the police. After the free period has expired and even if you have paid the $275 annual fee, the call from them costs five bucks.
My 2001 C320 had Tele-Aid which was standard then and one day after boarding a ferry, I neglected to push the disable button. After making my way up to the passenger deck, the boat pulled out and my alarm went off.
Followed by an announcement on the ship's loudspeaker system: "Will the owner of the black Mercedes on the car deck please go down and shut off the alarm."
When I opened the door, my cell was ringing and it was Tele-Aid calling. They billed me $5 for that call.
My 2001 C320 had Tele-Aid which was standard then and one day after boarding a ferry, I neglected to push the disable button. After making my way up to the passenger deck, the boat pulled out and my alarm went off.
Followed by an announcement on the ship's loudspeaker system: "Will the owner of the black Mercedes on the car deck please go down and shut off the alarm."
When I opened the door, my cell was ringing and it was Tele-Aid calling. They billed me $5 for that call.
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I'm not doubting your story, but the tow-away alarm on my 2005 is not that sensitive - maybe it was adjusted in later years. You really have to push it around to get it to go off and since Tele-Aid is not on my car that's not an issue. I'm glad to have it and I understand it to be cost cutting that led to its removal, not it being troublesome. Benz did some intensive cost-cutting in the W203 in its final year models.
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No way mine did the same thing on the ferry in Seattle I wasn't trying to set alarm just lock doors. Then the captain came across the loudspeaker asking me to turn the alarm off.
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