SPARE a thought for my mate Russell. He emailed me the other day asking for advice. He had to get a new company car – his Audi A6, a black TDI model like mine, had been stolen from his drive and the choice of alternatives, well, wasn’t quite what he had anticipated or hoped for.

The choice was a Toyota Avensis 2.0 D-4D T2 4 dr saloon; a Mazda 6 2.2 D TS2 5-door hatchback; or a Citroen C5 2.0 HDi 160 hp VTR. No Audi then? Apparently not – the A6 was outside the monthly contract hire banding limit, his company having tightened things up in the recession.

I was surprised, though. Audi recently won the What Car? security award for the third successive year. How was the car stolen?

Professionally. Very professionally. Seems the thieves came round the side of the house; took the bathroom window out; entered; took the keys; drove off. All during the night while Russ and his family slept. Russell’s house was one of several targeted in the area.

However, while Russell can’t have anouther Audi A6 – which is what he wanted – he has at least been offered a premium car since by his company – a Mercedes C180. Apparently there was a special offer which came within the company’s budget.

I guess the moral of the story is this. Companies like Audi are making cars so thief-deterrent, the thives have to target new ways of pinching the cars – by going for the keys. So beware.

Business Car Manager: Editor’s Blog