Stick shift deters thieves

There are lots of reasons why people might prefer manual to automatic transmissions, writes Brian Byrne. Cost, economy, perceived more 'sporty' driving are among them.

But a woman in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, has another reason. Theft deterrent.

Two teenagers who tried to hijack her car after they grabbed her keys in a shopping centre parking lot fled on foot when they found it had a manual shifter and three pedals ... because they didn't know how to drive it.

They were picked up by police afterwards and charged with attempted car-jacking.

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Petrol stretching scam 'has cost €7m'

The cost to Irish motorists for the 'fuel-stretching' scandal is now estimated to have reached €7m, according to highly respected motoring journalist Padraic Deane.

He originally broke the story of the scam last August, and this week he says more than 2,000 cars have been disabled or totally ruined since then. The scam involves diluting petrol with less expensive kerosene, causing coking and overheating that can lead to pistons actually melting.

The publisher of Autotrade.ie, Deane says the limelight has come off the issue, but dealers are telling him that not all the cases of damage coming in to them from customers are 'historical'.

Deane says the matter has only received 'lip service' from the Minister for Finance, although the Revenue Commissioners have investigated a number of outlets, taking some 300 samples.

In addition, some insurance companies who used to cover engine damage from contaminated fuel are now excluding it.

"There appears to be no visible activity taking place to stop the crime or to compensate them," says Deane. "This issue needs to investigated properly and transparently. People need to have clarity and confidence restored in where it is safe to buy petrol and diesel. The victims of petrol stretching shoulder no blame so they should shoulder no financial hardship."

He adds that if a petrol importer has unwittingly distributed contaminated petrol, and then covered it up, they should be named under Dáil privilege.

Dips on the pont

I was clearly an easy target, writes Brian Byrne. Left my hotel earlier, pulling my soft trolley carry-on, small rucksack on my back with keyboard and iPad. Camera in my right hand, doing some street and bridges stuff (above) along by the Seine down from Isle de la Cite.

Turned onto Pont Neuf, quiet on a Saturday morning. Two guys in their 20s, waving competition cards. "Speak English? Big prize. Sign here, please?" Shook my head. "Not interested. No." Persistent, the guy in front crowding, big smile. "Please, mister. Sign. Good prize."

Classic distraction pickpocket attempt. I pushed forward, spotted the second guy's hand slipping towards the zip on my jacket pocket. Reaching it, starting to pull. Hands full, I turned, yelled loud into his ear. He jerked, they gave up, scarpered, empty handed. They'd only have got my reading glasses, don't keep anything of value in outside pockets when I'm travelling.

The third time. The first on a bus in Rome, on the way to the Vatican, notorious for the crime (the buses, I mean). Felt it in the crush, turned, caught the guy's eye, he pushed away. Later, getting off the bus, somebody said their wallet was gone ...

The next getting onto a train in Barcelona. Man in front stopped suddenly, somebody behind bumped. Felt a hand on my back pocket, turned, caught a young fellow in the chest with my elbow. Hard. "Oh. Sorry," I said, pushed my way onto the train, past his confederate.

Three times lucky. Someone, sometime, may succeed. But I'm watching ...

Car crime 'on the increase'

One in ten motorists across the country have been victims of car crime in the past two years, according to AA Ireland.

This estimate is made in extrapolating the results of an online poll in which 6,500 motorists took part. And the situation is worse in Dublin, where the figure rises to 15 percent of motorists.

Almost four in 10 who have been victims of car crime nationally have either had their car stolen or there was an attempt to steal it. The others either had their car broken into or there was an attempt made to do so.

AA Ireland's Conor Faughnan says it is a major problem that 'is on the rise'.

Many people reported that their car had been targeted when they were at a gathering like a family christening or wedding.

Beware the car cloners

This from Motorcheck.ie is a very useful piece on guarding against buying inadvertantly a cloned car.