M3 crushed for being cut and shut

[Gavlar]

West Midlands Police have put a video up

 

[Coog]

Wonder who kept the alloys

 

[big_pete]

That is absolutely sickening, the smug look on his face too.

How can they identify the stolen parts?

 

[Coog]

Probably engine and serial numbers. Presumably BMW retains all that info.

 

[gary1365]

Wonder who kept the alloys

 

[KevM]

I watched a thing on forensic retrieval of removed & defaced ID numbers on cars & parts. Its difficult to really make them go away. Plus, most parts have a production stamp with build dates etc. Then, its just a matter of connecting the dots

 

[gary1365]

Would all the ecus not retain the data of the original car too.

 

[cauld1]

The plot thickens!

Still see no issue with a healthy dose of scepticism at police social media posts (same as any made by others), particularly given the frequency with which exaggerations tend to be used.

 

[ossy2004]

Shame… looked superb

 

[KevM]

To be fair, it looks as if a previous attempt to grab the shell by the roof, tore the whole lot off at the joints on the pillars/quarters

 

[richie_mck]

Could it not have been sold off for salvage only? still a good engine, gearbox, brakes, lights, panels and interior.

 

[Ghisallo]

Maybe the police need to follow up with w whoever it was did the fairly clear recent MOTs.

 

[purplea4T]

Could it not have been sold off for salvage only? still a good engine, gearbox, brakes, lights, panels and interior.

Wouldn't think so, especially if the provenance of the parts can't be evidenced.
No entirely sure why West Mids Police are getting a hard time from some posters here, the identity of the whole car is/was very much in doubt. Their social media posts don't help much to help fight their corner but from other forums, a chap who was strongly linked to the car was involved in prolific car thefts of high value vehicles - there's more ways than one to skin a cat.

 

[KevM]

All the stolen bits!

Probably so much red-tape with Insurance company total loss payouts etc, Identification numbers tampered/removed and so on, destruction was easier and made for a stronger message

 

[richie_mck]

Fair enough, just a shame to see the cost of those parts running through a shredder.

 

[purplea4T]

All the stolen bits!

Probably so much red-tape with Insurance company total loss payouts etc, Identification numbers tampered/removed and so on, destruction was easier and made for a stronger message

Yeah, none of that in good conscience could have went back on the road. Someone owned it, whether it be an insurance company or an owner who'd had the parts taken. No difference in todays world than a Nova sr or GTE being stolen and stripped or an RS Turbo, technology has moved on to identify parts now.

 

[cauld1]

No entirely sure why West Mids Police are getting a hard time from some posters here, the identity of the whole car is/was very much in doubt. Their social media posts don't help much to help fight their corner

You literally answered the question! Thats exactly why (though hard time is perhaps a bit extreme).

 

[svensktoppen]

The plot thickens.

Still see no issue with a healthy dose of scepticism at police social media posts (same as any made by others), particularly given the frequency with which exaggerations tend to be used.

So, let's see.

On the one hand, police saying the car was a mix of badly/dangerously tacked together bits of several stolen cars. Based on two separate independent assessments plus their own forensic work.

On the other hand, a bunch of random dudes on anti-social media (and here...) disputing that, with no evidence what so ever and most never having seen or been anywhere near the car. Never mind knowing its history.

Now, who to believe... Hmmm... Tricky one that

 

[stevieturbo]

So, let's see.

On the one hand, police saying the car was a mix of badly/dangerously tacked together bits of several stolen cars. Based on two separate independent assessments plus their own forensic work.

On the other hand, a bunch of random dudes on anti-social media (and here...) disputing that, with no evidence what so ever and most never having seen or been anywhere near the car. Never mind knowing its history.

Now, who to believe... Hmmm... Tricky one that

Not really.....have you seen the police evidence ? Have any of us ?

All too often their word, their evidence can stray quite a bit from the truth. And still they have made no public mention of any arrests relating to stolen parts etc or indeed said there is even an investigation as to where they came from ?

Surely that has to be a massive red flag, when that is the actual serious crime here ? They're just out seeking attention with videos like that, and zero effort into tackling the thieves ?

Now if they caught car thieves and dropped them into a crusher, that would be a positive step.

 

[Ghisallo]

So, let's see.

On the one hand, police saying the car was a mix of badly/dangerously tacked together bits of several stolen cars. Based on two separate independent assessments plus their own forensic work.

On the other hand, a bunch of random dudes on anti-social media (and here...) disputing that, with no evidence what so ever and most never having seen or been anywhere near the car. Never mind knowing its history.

Now, who to believe... Hmmm... Tricky one that

Sure makes a mockery of the MOT system

 

[Eager]

Sure makes a mockery of the MOT system

It’s not exactly mockery free be it mainland or here.
Nevermind/outside of the current shambles locally on that front

 

[stevieturbo]

Sure makes a mockery of the MOT system

MOT is a very very basic 15minute check on simple safety items. And let's face it, English MOT's seem to be even less than that.

Although there could maybe be questions asked as to the VRN/V5 details appearing as a totally different car than what is presented in terms of body, drivetrain etc etc.

 

[cauld1]

So, let's see.

On the one hand, police saying the car was a mix of badly/dangerously tacked together bits of several stolen cars. Based on two separate independent assessments plus their own forensic work.

On the other hand, a bunch of random dudes on anti-social media (and here...) disputing that, with no evidence what so ever and most never having seen or been anywhere near the car. Never mind knowing its history.

Now, who to believe... Hmmm... Tricky one that

I stand by what I said.

There was no evidence either way really, and actual details which were then provided being posted.

Just most of the time people who haven't held a spanner or even changed a wheel (a lot of them here too) spouting whatever buzzword they see.

Does no harm to have an inquisitive mind!

 

[Brennan]

This thread seems to have escalated quickly lol

Awful to see a lovely motor like that crushed and one would question why the car was not stripped for parts, interior and exterior and just the body shell crushed.

 

[quattro Rick]

This thread seems to have escalated quickly lol

Awful to see a lovely motor like that crushed and one would question why the car was not stripped for parts, interior and exterior and just the body shell crushed.

Because then the cops would be seen as being no better than the presumed thief's who stole said parts to create the car in the first place

Likely trying to convey a message to lads looking to build similar cars in the future, that if they think it's creation is hiding stolen parts that they won't hesitate to destroy it.