How can I protect my Volkswagen Golf?

I have a 2012 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 diesel R edition. Was broken into Saturday night. Thieves popped the locks electronically. Gardaí attended from Whitehall station. Said it was the second Golf that night in the area had been robbed. They even relocked the car setting the factory fitted alarm.

Contacted Volkswagen Ireland this morning asked if they can do anything like upgrade the software on the car transponders to use a different set of codes. Got a sharp 'nothing we can do'.

Are you folks aware of any such stories of other Golfs being broken into this way?

Brian Forristal

Brian Forristal (Kildare)

Sep 2015 Filed under: car theft

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Expert answer

Hi Brian,

To be fair to Volkswagen, there's not a lot it can do. The problem is that car thieves are becoming far more sophisticated and are using some very clever boxes of electronic tricks that can break down a car's security systems in minutes, and make it think that the proper key and immobiliser is being used. There's not a lot can be done about it at the moment and in fact police both here and the UK are now advising drivers (not just drivers of Golfs, but of any car) to start using the old-fashioned crime prevention techniques - steering wheel and gearshift locks and driveway posts.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe