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-   -   Battery Theft : The new target? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/95401-battery-theft-new-target.html)

Today one of our family friends had their battery stolen from Zen in Ludhiana.
Went to the battery shop, and the guy said that he gets many cases daily of batteries being stolen from cars!

This is really the first time I am hearing of such a thing, and to top it all it happened right outside the house!
So be a little more vigilant. Just when you thought you have seen it all, thieves com up with new stuff!

How did they manage to open the bonnet? Looks like each part of the car needs to be dismantled in the night and kept at home. In the morning, re-assemble everything and start the car !! :Frustrati

Maybe they forced the bonnet lock, which is not very strong for many cars. And batteries are very easy to resell in the local markets.

Anyway, bad news for car owners. Just wish your battery is due for replacement at the time you loose one.

You would still lose some money. These days companies pay for returning the old batteries on exchange for new ones. I got Rs 750 for my 2 year old one.

Wait a minute!! maybe that's why they are being stolen.

Actually old partially working batteries often get 1000-1500 at smaller shops and for a working battery with all cells intact you can get 2000+ too.

Monograms getting stolen.
Rear view mirrors getting stolen (Honda city anyone?).
A single tyre(?) getting stolen.
And now battery.

Whats next??
Bumper? Doors??? Seats????

Best option now is to start sleeping in the car. :Frustrati

It is not new. In our part of India people used to tie the bonnet with chains and/or they weld some rod to bonnet as well as one in chassis and used to put "Godrej Nav Tal" locks into them.

Look wise it was quite funny but they said no way we can save battery even inside compound of their home. My friend used to operate fleet of Sumo at my hometown.

Seriously, what next??!

When we got our first car in Gurgaon, the first thing the car accessories guy asked us to fit was a Gear Lock. Being from Pune, we thought he was just trying to make his sales. But on consulting with some of dad's colleagues, we realized how essential it was!

By the way, I have seen tempos which have a steel casing for the battery and there is a small lock. Do we start doing that for cars as well?! Of course, someone who can get into the bonnet can surely manage a small lock.

Again, what next?!

thats interesting spitfire. where do you buy your batteries?
ive never managed more than scrap value for my old batteries - perhaps a Rs 500 discount at the max when Im buying the new one.
And typically if one is buying the battery at an Authorized Service Station one would be lucky to get a value of Rs 100-200 for the old battery.
my scorp battery is almost 3 years old. its been working very well so far.
I guess with constant usage, the battery lasts a bit longer maybe?

A Local battery (70 - 80Ah) (assembled, reconditioned, so many names) - meaning made in your local city can fetch EASILY 800Rs.

So when you are exchanging your dead/old for new, press for a better resale value.

Yes, battery is a ol'd thing on the list to be bought, err, stolen.

(OT - I saw a BRAND new NHC in bangy yesterday with its prominent H on the boot wrestled out with a sharp object. Sigh..!!)

Ganesh Tyre Sales off Old Airport Road. After Total Mall. Amaron Batteries.

I had bought the previous battery from him and due to a bit of negligence (unused for long due to my travel) from my end the Battery went bust in a 2 years time.

Got it replaced to another Amaron with Rs 750 for the old one.

Nothing new, atleast not in Bombay. Have been hearing of battery theft, along with ECUs / tyres / etc., since long. Compared to 10 rupee monograms being stolen, a battery is like striking gold for these guys. In India, anything tangible item can & will be stolen.

Or park in a safe place?

Better to take out the battery and take it home before going to sleep ;). But seriously I've seen some people doing it in my natives, but that's not to save the battery but to save the car from being stolen. Don't know how effective it would be but I guess the car thieves probably don't carry a spare battery to run a stolen car.

As necessary it has become of late to safe guard every important part of the car, all the anti-theft devices and other technologies are just making the joy of driving more taxing!

For each luxury/facility you get in a car, you end up having two worries to protect/maintain it.

thanks Sptifire old chap