wow!!
You're very lucky.
You should probably go play the lotto or something now.

Good news!

I got a call from a mate, who's mate saw my ute somewhere near where it got stolen. I rushed down there and - yay! Found her - still in one piece!! (Canberra's a small place and I guess sending 400 messages out to people means allot of people keeping their eyes open...)

It looks like the culprits saw the keys in the ignition, jumped in for a joy ride, got down a couple of streets before realising it had absolutely no breaks and was pretty much un-drivable and must have thrown down a little ally. I found it in a puddle of brake fluid...

The great news is that it looks like it's in good condition and I've only found one scratch on it - so it looks like we'll be back on the road soon! Only problem is they broke the ignition barrel for some reason, so I cant unlock the steering wheel or start the car... but still, i think it's the best case scenario.

Cheers for the good vibes, it was a tense and upsetting 6 hours :)
-John

thats some bad news mate

unlucky

Really sorry to hear that...its a great looking ute youve obviously put a lot into...did you express to the mechanics that you didn't want it left in the street?
On similar note...has anyone heard about the recent spate of "car muggings" going on? I was talking to a mate from the Gong the other day who reckons theres been a few cases of ppl wishing to sell thier cars...handing them over for a "test drive" then never seeing it again...the most extreme have been when the seller has gone along with them...and been assaulted by either the potential "buyer" or an accomplice....Apparently in legal perspectives if you hand over the keys to them...it does not constitute a clear cut case of theft
If this is true then its something to be wary of for all you sellers out there.

I'll keep a eye out too, hope you find it in one piece

oy that sjust a bit weird why would u leave the keys in the car surely the boss or some one would of asked the eprenesse or who ever was at fault if thay locked it and took the keys out u sure its not an inside job

Thats #### mate, I was checkin out your car the other day on the net, was looking forward to when I get mine, so I could come down and go for a cruse with you guys.

I will post a pic of the ute in the local nissan myspace page...

Like perthute said, I would take the shop to court, talk to a lawyer and see what he says... I got a feeling that law about the keys in the ignition is also applicable in NSW, so check it out...

And if you find the pricks, I'm sure that there is a lot of Datto owners that would love to remove there limbs...

im wa its illegal to leave keys in the car and be more than 3 metres away .
every shop has a duty of care leaving the keys in the car would breach that duty of car . ,have the cops done been to the shop? i would take them to court, i feel you would win if the keys where in the car

Thanks Tyrie! I appreciate it mate, im heading out to the cotter to see if i can find anything there too..

I'm heading in (on a bus) to the workshop tomorrow to talk to them about it in person...

I don't really know who's at fault here, and the money was never the issue with that car, the insurance would never pay me what i spent on it... It's just that I'm so attached to it.

I don't think my insurance would cover it with the keys sitting in it...