Will my car be stolen in Poland?

I'm going on a trip with my German car to Poland soon. Every single German I've told this to has said be carfeul with your car. Is it really that bad in Poland? Do I really need to leave my car locked away under armed guard at the hotel?

I've spoken to the family who I'm visiting in Poland. They say they've never heard of a car being stolen. Any advice would be appreciated?

I have heard that Diesel cars are stolen the most, so they can run them on tractor fuel in the former Ost Bloc, but it's the sort of infomation that I probably heard from some bloke in the pub!

It's pretty bad there apparently. Most people have to push a certain button on their dashboard for a certain amount of time or with some special pattern, otherwise their car won't start, so as to prevent theives for driving away in it...

The trouble with any commerial or manufacturers' theft protection system is it's either fundamentally part of the car's engine managment system, very expensive, or easily bypassed by the pros. Best is a really solid steering wheel lock and/or wheel clamp.

A relative of mine was in Poland with his mother about 20 y ago because she was originally from there. Unfortunately the mother died during their stay. They put a blanket on her and laid her in the back of their car, went to a police station. When they returned to where the car stood it was stolen. Take care of your belongings!

Presumably the thieves sold the Mother's organs on the black market.

I heard about someone the other day, apparantly they were spotted and followed at the border and as soon as they parked the car it was taken, never to be seen again. Polish people I've spoken to say it's bad..but I'm not sure whether this is only in certain parts or perhaps exaggerated. Perhaps hotel parking etc. is your best bet...

Just planning to go there for a week starting this weekend, with my new motorbike, and you guys are worrying me! Then again life is a risk. Will take my big padlock and chain and be careful as possible as usual. I survived Bosnia, Slovakia, Hungary etc before.

Have you checked your insurance policy? Most hotels trying to attract German guests offer secure parking.

I've checked my Magic 8-Ball and it said "reply hazy, try again". Then it said "signs point to yes". You have been warned.

In Switzerland there was a saying...Heute gestohlen, morgen in Polen...but that´s the other way round...

I heard the phrase car-jacking for the first time in connection with Poland. A friend of mine who has to visit husbands relatives DARE NOT stop en route for fear of being held up, your money or your life kinda thing... forewarned is forearmed.

I recall reading that a couple of years back during a gliding competition in Poland one of the German team's cars was stolen and an attempt had been made on another car but were foiled by the system.

Hmmmm...doesn't sound good. I wish I hadn't asked now. Is it only foreign cars that get knicked? Do Polish cars get stolen too? For example, would renting a car with Polish number plates be a good idea?

A German friend who I used to play footie with in Frankfurt drove to Poland (a few years back mind you) and had his car radio stolen.

Does your policy cover you for Poland?

I think I'm covered for all east European countries but will double check now!

Yeah everbody that I have known that took their car there came back by bus. Good luck.

Found this bit of info on the net :


Expats in Poland

That rung a bell & my wife confirmed - friends of hers went to Poland with their VW camping bus for a holiday with canoes etc on roof. First stop (might even have been Warsaw) the bus got nicked & they were in DEEP TROUBLE - no papers, no funds & three kids. They had great problems getting home & were not in the best frames of mind...

I thought that went on in mainland Espania...

Having said the above, I have traveled extensively in Poland by bus and train and never had anything stolen (unlike Spain) nor had any trouble.

Bit difficult to steal a train...

Exactly

Last week I read that the situation in Poland is improving.
The risk that is car will be stolen is 30% less then in Italy.
I think youshould wait 10 years.

What was the name of the first Pole?
Klaus!

Unfortunately I have a date with large quantities of lemon vodka which can't be missed. I'll take the wife's car.


Thus also avoiding the Magic 8-Ball's grim warning.

If you are so worried, rent a car.
Hertz let's you take vehicles into the new EU countries, as long as it's not a BMW, Mercedes or VW.
I used them and came back from Poland with the rental car and all 4(5) wheels.

It depends what type of car you have. The nicer the car, the rarer they are to buy on the second hand market there and hence, the more likely it is to get stolen. The issue stems from the fact that there aren't a lot of good quality second hand "premium" brands for sale there, and because of the country's rapid recent development there is a growing middle class who can afford them.

It's a bit like saying, should I leave my wallet at home when I visit Barcelona or Rome in case I get pickpocketed...

I wouldn't think twice about taking a Ford Focus over the border, but if I had a nice 5 Series i probably wouldn't do it.

Germans generally have a very negative view of the Poles anyway in my opinion, so some of the stories you hear are bound to be exaggerated. I've travelled to Poland many times and my only negative experience was being ripped off by a taxi driver. Which happens in every country!

Which reminds me of... the previous Pope visits Aldi & at the exit they present him with a rose.
Pope: "Why did you give me a rose - I did not buy anything"
Aldi staff: "You are the first Pole to come through here without nicking anything"

Jeez people, take it easy:) Poland is mainly used as transit country for stolen cars anyway... There is plenty of Polish expensive cars on Polish roads these days Why bother and steal the foreign one? Good alarm system should be enough and there are secure parking lots so if you stay within reasonable limits (i.e. don't leave your car open for the night etc.) you should be fine.

Why do Russians always steal two cars? Because they have to go through Poland on the way home.

What's a Polish triathlon? Walk to the swimming pool, and cycle home.

Nice scaremongering there chaps. I drove to Poland 10 years ago with a colleague. We were delivering a brand new BMW to the Polish sales manager. We were there for 1 week and parked the car in the open and did not hire a security company to shoot anybody who came within 2 feet of the vehicle. Nothing happened to us or the car, and that was 10 years ago.

That's because 10 years ago almost nobody in Poland could afford to buy or run a second hand BMW.

Just a quick tip for anyone travelling in Poland.
If you shake hands with anyone out there remember to count all your fingers on leaving!!!

My tip is to travel in a company of at least 3 so that everone of you can look after a wheel while waiting for a green light!

And now seriously - acc. to recent statistics the most desirable car among the thieves is VW Passat

1. Volkswagen Passat - 2.070 STOLEN CARS IN 2007
2. Volkswagen Golf - 1.462
3. Fiat 126p - 759
4. Audi A6 - 689
5. Fiat Seicento - 619
6. Audi A4 - 423
7. Audi 80 - 411
8. Skoda Octavia - 372
9. Toyota Corolla - 346
10. Peugeot 307 - 319
11. Fiat Cinquecento - 303
12. Opel Astra - 289
13. Fiat Panda - 282
14. Opel Vectra - 255
15. Toyota Yaris - 240
16. Seat Ibiza - 236

What a pile racist & not to mention ill informed rubbish!

This video says it all...

http://www.bendecho.de/477931839c-deutschland-polen

I was recently reading this ADAC mag and found that the Polish govt. has imposed a rule that anyone (who's not the owner) can drive a vehicle only if they have the permission to do so (from the owner,rental car provider, et al). That implies that he/she has to carry the necessary documents when driving a car which is not their own.

Its probably a new rule (not sure) to improve the security and also the image of the country.

i was also a bit scared before going to poland last year (have to admit, there's a lot of nasty rumours out there) but it was totally fine! although we almost always parked in secure parking and never left even so much as a water bottle in the car behind when we left it. we had rented some fancy german car too (can't remember now which one).

the people were so lovely and friendly, a real welcome change to germany. everybody was so kind, including a computer shop man downloading our photos from our camera cards and burning them to cd for us for free, to a waitresses boyfriend serving us in a restaurant because she couldn't speak english and he could.

by the end i was more nervous about coming back to berlin and having to put up with the psychos here again.

you know that the polish invented the triathlon ?
they walk to the swimming pool and go home by bike

tallbrunette, pm Dan Hessen ASAP.

and why is that, bohemka ??

What! for pate.

eeeeeeewwwwwwwww

Well, he's lonely, for one. And secondly he lives in Frankfurt. And lastly, I was trying to be funny (the third point's always forgotten (rightly so)).

ahhhh right... well, I might
cheers

Why do Russians always steal two cars in Germany? Because they have to drive back through Poland.

Actually I've been here almost two weeks and have had an excellent holiday. I was a bit nervous about my car when I was near the border. But now I'm deep in Poland I haven't had the feeling my car is going to be nicked. The car number plates blend in with the Polish plates and it doesn't stand out at all. I find driving in Poland really easy, the hardest part is remembering to turn the car lights on before setting off. (Your lights always have to be on in Poland.)

And a quick plug for the holiday house where I've been staying. Meredith House is an excellent place to stay. Great area for hiking and sight-seeing. Also very near the Slovakian border. I've really enjoyed zapping between the two countries.

I'm really surprised no military Americans have posted on this one yet.

Army and Air Force wives posted in central Germany have been driving over the border to Boleslawiec for the pottery for yonks. They've got a neat little car-guarding operation there (or they still did 5 years ago, last time I was there.) The town has lots of pottery shops. You drive to each shop you want to visit and park there, and some kid, teenager or younger, offers to "wash your car." (This may be "watch your car," but it's pretty hard to understand.) You pay them $1 or $2, they may give it a swipe or two with the dirty rag they have handy in a bucket, you come back out and your car is still there, everybody's happy. Presumably, if you don't pay up, they're on the mobile phone with their mobster cousin tout de suite.

How much of a charade this really is, is hard to tell. Certainly the kid is not going to be able to defend your car against thieves, but of course the Americans are afraid of finding out what happens, if anything, when you don't comply. It's pretty funny to see these kids sitting on the curb toward the end of the day, with the pile of Commissary treats they've been given along with their monetary bribes (Twizzlers, Reese's peanut butter cups, bags of Cheetos.)