Has your car been reported as abandoned?

[Snowzone]

I arrived home after a walk on Sunday to find a police card attached to my front door. Please contact Senior Constable so and so....
Apparently someone had reported my car as being abandoned in a campground in The Little Desert and now they were concerned as to if I was a missing person.
My car was only there for 3 nights, one of which I was camped next to it. And if anybody read any of the walk notes at the campground would surely realise there was a multiday walk that I could of been on.
I was also registered with Parks as a permit was required. I am reluctant to leave too many details on display in my car just in case there are oportunistic people around that may break into my car when they know your not due back for a couple of days.
Anyway what steps if any do you take to stop your car being reported abandoned.

[GPSGuided]

It's good to know there are good and concerned people out there! Wouldn't do anything more than what you've done to balance risk and responsibility. I am sure the police would also understand. Otherwise, hide the car better next time so that people can't find it.

[Tortoise]

Seems like a case of non-walkers with very high levels of concern. Would've been nice if something had gone wrong though! Seems odd the police didn't contact Parks as a first port of call.

I'm with you on leaving too many details on display - even reluctant to leave rego number in sign in log books that say i'll be gone for x number of days. I usually leave a contact phone number instead.

I wouldn't take any other steps.

[Snowzone]

It's good to know there are good and concerned people out there! Wouldn't do anything more than what you've done to balance risk and responsibility. I am sure the police would also understand. Otherwise, hide the car better next time so that people can't find it.

But wouldn't hiding a car in the bush make it look more like it had been abandoned. And I might be highly embarassed if I could not find it again myself.

[Snowzone]

Seems like a case of non-walkers with very high levels of concern. Would've been nice if something had gone wrong though! Seems odd the police didn't contact Parks as a first port of call.

Yes I thought this would be the case as well but maybe even the Police don't have an after hours contact with Parks. They should, a weekends a long time if someone was actually missing.

One of the amusing things was the car was there for 3 nights total but the Police were informed it had been there 4 or 5 nights. I'm not sure how anyone came up with that.

[walkerchris77]

I leave a sign saying "broken down back soon. " and disconnect the battery and put my club lock on.
That should stop someone trying to steal a car that wont start and the fact it says back soon means u could be back any time.
It also tells police etc your not lost out bush.

[DanShell]

Can I ask what sort of car it was? I mean if it looks like it could be an abandoned car that may have contributed....no one would abandon a 200K BMW for instance Then again none of us would take a 200K BMW and leave it in a car park on a multi day walk...let alone afford one in the first place!

[Snowzone]

I leave a sign saying "broken down back soon. " and disconnect the battery and put my club lock on.
That should stop someone trying to steal a car that wont start and the fact it says back soon means u could be back any time.
It also tells police etc your not lost out bush.

I don't worry so much about my car being stolen for some reason I worry more about having a window smashed and the car ransacked. In this case though I was more worried when I realized a search for me could of been initiated unnecessarily.

[Snowzone]

Can I ask what sort of car it was? I mean if it looks like it could be an abandoned car that may have contributed....no one would abandon a 200K BMW for instance Then again none of us would take a 200K BMW and leave it in a car park on a multi day walk...let alone afford one in the first place!

Ok so I hadn't washed it for a while, Hey it goes bush.
No really its a 2009 Subaru Forester in good nik and was reasonably tidy inside as well.

[DanShell]

Can I ask what sort of car it was? I mean if it looks like it could be an abandoned car that may have contributed....no one would abandon a 200K BMW for instance Then again none of us would take a 200K BMW and leave it in a car park on a multi day walk...let alone afford one in the first place!

Ok so I hadn't washed it for a while, Hey it goes bush.
No really its a 2009 Subaru Forester in good nik and was reasonably tidy inside as well.

Doesn't sound like a typically abandoned car to me then, very interesting. As others have said, most likely non walking cautious type of people.
But to put another spin on it, I do believe that when Police mark a car as abandoned, that car is then open for tow truck people to take it away....and I think there are some out there that keep a very keen eye out on the abandoned car list for a car to make quick $$$$$$.....I could be wrong but thats the impression I got from a bloke that picks up known abandoned cars for the police.

[GPSGuided]

I leave a sign saying "broken down back soon. " and disconnect the battery and put my club lock on.
That should stop someone trying to steal a car that wont start and the fact it says back soon means u could be back any time.
It also tells police etc your not lost out bush.

Bummer with that good technique on today's cars. Once the battery disconnects, the music system amongst other functions would lock out until a code is entered and settings reset. A real pain.

[GPSGuided]

Can I ask what sort of car it was? I mean if it looks like it could be an abandoned car that may have contributed....no one would abandon a 200K BMW for instance

Or it could be a crime scene. Don't open that boot nor leave your finger print on the car!!! Keep your boot prints well away too.

[Son of a Beach]

I'd had that once before. Left my old commodore wagon on the Lyell Highway where we hoped we'd emerge from the scrub 6 days later after bashing through from Bub's Hill (and we came out spot on!).

When we got home, my wife told me that the police had phoned her about the car that had been left beside the road for a few days. They were fine once she explained why it was there.

We'd also removed the coil lead to prevent theft. It's not a particularly safe place to leave a car.

[Mark F]

IN that situation the police are on hiding to nothing. If they don't respond to a report and something is wrong then the coroner is going to have a piece of them. Generally I get the impression after talking to a few police officers that they would rather act a bit early on a false alarm and be able to fit their response into the general run of activity rather than having to react quickly to an emergency.

[walkon]

I once apparently spent too much time out bush and my wife said she felt abandoned. Does that count?

[Mechanic-AL]

I once apparently spent too much time out bush and my wife said she felt abandoned. Does that count?

Depends.... how many kms has she got on the clock?

[walkon]

I once apparently spent too much time out bush and my wife said she felt abandoned. Does that count?

Depends.... how many kms has she got on the clock?

Well shes got a few kms on the clock now, few creaks, developing a louder whine with age, wouldn't be described as high maintenance though does need some. Duco has a few crows feet and the diff somewhere along the way got replaced with a bigger model. Not sure when that happened?

I think I'd lose to much if I traded her in mechanic Al and well I've sort of got used to her being around. Plus she doesn't know what I'd do without her as apparently I need to be told how to do everything. So I guess I'll keep her

[Snowzone]

I once apparently spent too much time out bush and my wife said she felt abandoned. Does that count?

Depends.... how many kms has she got on the clock?

Well shes got a few kms on the clock now, few creaks, developing a louder whine with age, wouldn't be described as high maintenance though does need some. Duco has a few crows feet and the diff somewhere along the way got replaced with a bigger model. Not sure when that happened?

I think I'd lose to much if I traded her in mechanic Al and well I've sort of got used to her being around. Plus she doesn't know what I'd do without her as apparently I need to be told how to do everything. So I guess I'll keep her

Well walkon she sounds like a very comfortable ride... I hope you give her plenty of attention when you do return from your walks.

[walkon]

My lovely laughed when she read this last night, I guess the flowers and cooking tea all week worked a treat

[DanShell]

Can I ask what sort of car it was? I mean if it looks like it could be an abandoned car that may have contributed....no one would abandon a 200K BMW for instance

Or it could be a crime scene. Don't open that boot nor leave your finger print on the car!!! Keep your boot prints well away too.

Imagine the potential for the boot to be full of cash though.......or a body

[GPSGuided]

Imagine the potential for the boot to be full of cash though.......or a body

Ok, then just make sure you have a stomach of steel before opening...

[walkerchris77]

I leave a sign saying "broken down back soon. " and disconnect the battery and put my club lock on.
That should stop someone trying to steal a car that wont start and the fact it says back soon means u could be back any time.
It also tells police etc your not lost out bush.

Bummer with that good technique on today's cars. Once the battery disconnects, the music system amongst other functions would lock out until a code is entered and settings reset. A real pain.

True, lucky I have an old ford . Probably be a blessing if someone stole it. Just dont want to walk home.

[north-north-west]

Yeah, I had a similar experience up at Ghost Gully a few years back. People there aren't used to walkers, especially ones who overnight.

[puredingo]

yeah, if the car thieves took my big V6 gas guzzling, mechanically challenged pathfinder for a spin I wouldn't be exactly upset....I just would hope they do a decent job of it and it was never seen again.

For this reason my bushwalking car is kept basically as a shell...Not so much a 5 cent piece in the console.