Be careful with your car if surfing 13th - my van got stolen this morning, key in a surf lock safe on towbar attachment (idiot). Down past Boings at Ant carpark (36W) I was in the water when it got taken but a couple of guys were checking the surf, on platform only about 5 meters from car (behind a tree) but not looking, didn't hear them smash the key safe or drive away. So don't leave your car with a key safe attached!!! Thanks to the crew who assisted after - especially Shannon, legend!
Now for the fight with insurance, i'm with RACV anyone with experience with this issue, especially with them,, I've heard of denied claims???
Sorry to hear mate.
13th / Posso's (and Bells to a lesser degree) is pretty well known for break-ins / theft especially those who use Key safes. I always take the key with me in the water. It is a smart key, but splits so I only take the key itself, not the remote part.
It's usually the meth crowd from Corio who do the break ins... I'd do a drive around the streets of Corio to see if it is sitting in a front yard... it's happened before (they are not the smartest lot out there).
Good luck getting your van back!
Thanks Hoppo. And if anyone sees this old favourite of mine which was in the back (and has since been creased and fixed but i still love it!) give my fondest regards to the bloke who has it! Custom from many years ago, only one around. I'm guessing they will just dump it and the paddle, great top of the line ripcurl e7 wetsuit, leashes and fins that were rattling around in the van too somewhere... Perhaps i'll clean out the van a bit more regularly and not take multiple surf options with me!! And definitely up the security.... Carnts...
Select to expand quotedools111 said..
Be careful with your car if surfing 13th - my van got stolen this morning, key in a surf lock safe on towbar attachment (idiot). Down past Boings at Ant carpark (36W) I was in the water when it got taken but a couple of guys were checking the surf, on platform only about 5 meters from car (behind a tree) but not looking, didn't hear them smash the key safe or drive away. So don't leave your car with a key safe attached!!! Thanks to the crew who assisted after - especially Shannon, legend!
Now for the fight with insurance, i'm with RACV anyone with experience with this issue, especially with them,, I've heard of denied claims???
Read the PDS for your insurer
If keys are in or on car you are not usually covered
Select to expand quoteGboots said..dools111 said..
Be careful with your car if surfing 13th - my van got stolen this morning, key in a surf lock safe on towbar attachment (idiot). Down past Boings at Ant carpark (36W) I was in the water when it got taken but a couple of guys were checking the surf, on platform only about 5 meters from car (behind a tree) but not looking, didn't hear them smash the key safe or drive away. So don't leave your car with a key safe attached!!! Thanks to the crew who assisted after - especially Shannon, legend!
Now for the fight with insurance, i'm with RACV anyone with experience with this issue, especially with them,, I've heard of denied claims???
Read the PDS for your insurer
If keys are in or on car you are not usually covered
With RACV and PDS does not contain the specific clause they normally rely on in this situation ie keys must not be left in or near/with car if unattended... So on that I'm in a good position as no specific exclusion. I've read thru a few of the AFCA determinations on this and when they have upheld the insurer it is based on that specific exclusion... However there is also a general principle introduce by the insurance legislation that basically allows them to argue you have not taken reasonable precautions and have caused/contributed to the loss (often referred to as section 54). As i said nothing in the cases I've read that are based on this alone (ie in each case there was a specific clause as noted above, but this principle was mentioned) so there will be some arguments ahead I suspect! Will update as it develops!
Feel for you dools, I lived in Barwon Heads for 37 years,and surfed 13th area religiously ,particularly boings,every time it was on ! Never lost a thing ! My work Van mostly unlocked,however I moved North in 2010,as we felt the area was changing,becoming to crowded ! And with the sort of crap you have experienced becoming the new norm 
Good luck with finding your van and gear and with the insurance hassle, plus name and shame if it doesn't work out for you.,as we can all learn from this !
Select to expand quoteesoom said..
How wil they (insurer) know where keys were left ?
I would delete this thread and have a convincing story. Or have you told the police?
Select to expand quoteesoom said..
How wil they (insurer) know where keys were left ?
Good point . They have told me once (GIO) that it is better to leave them on towel at beach and have them stolen there than leave them in car . If you have left them in car and there is no sign of break in then you may not be covered .
New electronic keys are a real problem. Hence why i keep my old car . When i take newer car i risk taking them in water with 6 to 7 layers of locked bags (including specific water proof pouches ). Better to damage keys and lose a few thousand than lose $40k
If they canceled the bus route from Corio most of the crime on the beach would stop
That truly sucks dools, surf van and gear is a sad thing to lose.
Be careful if you go looking..
Don't snatch it back on your own, call a cop... sit and wait.
Yea, what a suck ass experience. Hope you get the van back. Shame for the sweet board. The key safes are fragile. I take the keys with me. My older surf rig is easy old school mech key but my new alarmed up van requires an electronic fob, hassles.The German made Keyfender.
Coastal locksmiths Torquay will make a copy of your key that you can put in your wetsuit far safer 25 dollars a key
I hope you get your van, board and everything back. Can't comment about insurance but this thread had prompted me to read mine.
As above I have a copy cut that will lock the door with my keys inside. The copy won't start the van (2015 Nissan NV350).
Van would have to be broken into which should mean I'm covered by Insurance.
Good luck
I keep my electronic key on me in a kguard pouch. The hole is a bit small, so it was a struggle to get it in there. It's not letting in any water and I just keep it in there permanently. Make sure to learn your button locations beforehand :D I keep it in my board shorts pocket, or tucked into my wetsuit to the side.
When I want to use a key without the pouch, I just use the spare key.
www.kguard.es/en/kguard-bag.php
You can get it on amazon, but I am not sure if it's available in AUS
Bummer! Hope you get it back.
What brand key lock?
I use a Master one which is supposedly good quality but do have concerns about using one.
Have been putting it out of site under car recently rather than being highly visible on the tow bar but I know that is probably more for my own peace of mind.
Select to expand quoterattlinbones said..
Bummer! Hope you get it back.
What brand key lock?
I use a Master one which is supposedly good quality but do have concerns about using one.
Have been putting it out of site under car recently rather than being highly visible on the tow bar but I know that is probably more for my own peace of mind.
Definitely better if not visible - and may be a factor in an insurance claim provided you don't have wording that excludes cover if key in or on/near car.. Mine was surf lock brand from memory
Not much use re insurance, although you've made it hard for the thief to break in, which is in your favour, legally speaking. Better than leaving the keys under the wheel arch.
Was at Perranporth and a guy had his van broken into and tools stolen using a keysafe, they're easy to pick, check videos on youtube. The crimbos also get to keep your keys.
I use an Aquapac, have done for decades. Take off the toggle and tie around the waist underneath your wettie, so it sits in the small of your back. You can opperte the key without taking it out of the pouch.
Thx for all the comments and thoughts. Good news they found the car (still with 2 wetsuits and some other stuff inside, not the sup though - and missing the middle row of seats!!!). And my insurer approved the insurance claim. However unfortunately i had a low ball fixed value cover and the repairs exceeded that so it was a technical write off. I offered to pay the extra but no go (they get to resell it!). Warning on agreed value insurance - the insurer will keep both the remaining prepaid period of your insurance (ie no refund) and the remaining rego refund!!! Anyway better outcome than expected, worth looking at your agreed value cover if you have it given recent jumps in used car values...
I did get a speeding fine notice in the interim ie while crooks had it, so of course i got the image online and it wasn't a bad shot of the driver so i forwarded to the police (who weren't really interested). Made me feel like a PI though...
Thx again all!!!
Good news !
Interesting point about agreed value . Is it worth insuring older cars with market value instead at this point of time due to supply chain issues ?
Was wondering about that but i don't know if the "market value" they rely on would be that well updated. i was searching for a replacement and definitely thought a few red book and similar values i checked for some older cars didn't reflect recent price hikes.... i was looking mainly at commercial type vans, iloads and vitos and sprinters circa 2010 and earlier, thougt the values were lower than the cars i was looking at online...
sorry just add water, bogged outside Moolap. about a week after taken, speeding image on prices highway at pt cook overpass on the way back from melbourne.... so it had a bit of a last trip up to the big smoke!!
Select to expand quotejustaddwater said..
Dools last question do you have to pay the speeding fine?
Nah you complete a form similar to nominating another driver but claiming the vehicle was stolen and attach a copy of the police report. I also got a parking ticket! (Same thing re advising it was stolen). Doubt they will ever recover those fines!!
Select to expand quotejustaddwater said..
Dools last question do you have to pay the speeding fine?
Nah you complete a form similar to nominating another driver but claiming the vehicle was stolen and attach a copy of the police report. I also got a parking ticket! (Same thing re advising it was stolen). Doubt they will ever recover those fines!!
I've gone with size and picked up an ex ambulance sprinter, already has solar and lots of storage just need to build a bed with storage underneath and a bit of a kitchen set of drawers(just adding to an existing sliding cabinet with space and wiring for a fridge). Cant wait for a few trips in it!!
Select to expand quotedools111 said..
I've gone with size and picked up an ex ambulance sprinter, already has solar and lots of storage just need to build a bed with storage underneath and a bit of a kitchen set of drawers(just adding to an existing sliding cabinet with space and wiring for a fridge). Cant wait for a few trips in it!!
Gold absolutely love van life,hanging out to get another one myself
