Summer vacation time is travel time. This was also the case for the C. family, who went to Calabria in August. Whose car was stolen. And it still came to an easy end thanks to autoSense.
A vacation trip to the south is something nice. Traveling by car, loved ones with you, the best time of the year ahead of you. Mario C.*), together with his wife and daughter, started the trip to Italy to meet other family members and spend time together. On board: an autoSense Plus adapter for the mobile WiFi hotspot of the daughter's iPad. Mario C. has been an autoSense customer for a good two years.
Unfortunately, the trip was overshadowed by a very unpleasant event. We were able to talk to Mario C. He told us what happened to him in southern Italy.
Tropea is a small town on the east coast of the southern Italian region of Calabria. It is known for its old town on a rock, its beaches and red onions.
Mario C. and his wife, who are stationed near this small town during their holidays, go there as a couple on the evening of August 11, 2023 to enjoy the warm summer evening and the city. They arrive at 8:15pm in the idyllic village, park their black Alfa Romeo Stelvio in a public parking lot and go into town for dinner.
At around 11 pm, the two set off for the parking lot. They still have an hour's drive back home to their holiday home. But back in the parking lot, the Alfa is no longer there.
Mario C. first suspects that the vehicle has been towed away because he paid for the parking ticket with a parking app and this may not have been registered. But people nearby, whom he interrogates, confirm to him that in such a case, a bus will be issued and a car will not be immediately towed away.
This reinforces the suspicion that the car could have been stolen. Mario C. is an autoSense customer. He has the app on his smartphone, the adapter is in his car. He opens the autoSense app and sees that his Alfa is in another location. He immediately calls the police, informs them of the brazen theft and about the adapter installed in the car, thanks to which the location of the stolen vehicle is visible.
When the police arrived on site, Mario C. gives them his cell phone so that they can recognize the location live and start the chase. Riding in a police car is not an option, as it is not allowed.
The police drive away with flashing lights and a second patrol is sent. Thanks to vehicle tracking, the Alfa Romeo is quickly found in the autoSense app. No sign of the thieves, they have already fled.
The perpetrators have removed the child seat and other personal belongings, probably thrown them away. Police told Mario C. that the thieves completely disassemble stolen cars and then sell the individual parts as spare parts. In the same night, 5 vehicles were stolen and probably dismantled. Only the one from Mario C. could be found again, thanks to autoSense.
Back in Switzerland, Mario C. has his vehicle thoroughly examined. On the part of autoSense, we will also check the adapter at his request. Result: everything ok! We are happy that the event went smoothly and, despite all the inconvenience for Mario C. and his family, still led to a happy ending.
*) The correct name is known to the author. Mario C. wishes to remain anonymous.
