You’d think two smart, security-conscious doctors living in a well-off London neighbourhood would be the last people to fall victim to car theft—not once, but twice in just one month.
But that’s exactly what happened to neurologists Dr. Vijeya Ganesan, 57, and Dr. Peter Garrard, 64.
The couple, who’ve lived on the same street for 27 years, were stunned when their brand-new Jeep Wrangler—worth £47,500—was stolen right off the road outside their home on Easter Sunday.
Even more shocking? When they replaced it with the exact same model and colour, that car was stolen too… just ten days after they brought it home.
They Bought the Same Car Again… And Lost It Again
The couple loved their Jeep for long drives and for taking their Border Terrier, Gus, out on adventures.
So, when the first vehicle was taken, they didn’t hesitate to use the insurance payout to get another one—this time shelling out £54,000.
Determined not to make the same mistake twice, they bought Faraday pouches from Amazon to block thieves from picking up the key signal, and even hid an Apple AirTag in the glovebox for tracking. But none of that helped.
On May 21, their second Jeep was swiped in the exact same way.
To make it worse, Gus’s dog bed was in the car both times—so even the family pet took a hit from these thefts.
Even Tech Tricks Couldn’t Outsmart the Thieves
The couple initially thought they had tracked down the second Jeep using the AirTag, which pinged a location in Hackney.
Police rushed to the area, but the car had vanished. The assumption? The thieves had spotted the tracker and dumped it.
Dr. Vijeya Ganesan said she felt like their vehicle had been specifically targeted—especially since flashier cars like Porsches and Lamborghinis on the same street were left untouched.
And they’re not the only ones—LBC presenter Nick Ferrari also had his Jeep Wrangler stolen that same month, sparking fears that these models might be getting “stolen to order” and shipped overseas.
Defiant, Frustrated… and Still in Love with the Jeep
Despite all this, the couple haven’t been put off.
They’re actually considering buying a third Jeep Wrangler. Call it stubbornness—or just love for the car.
“I felt rather stupid and very unlucky,” Dr. Garrard admitted, especially after investing in extra security.
“But it’s such a great car. We use it for long, infrequent drives, not daily errands. It’s just what we need.”
Even though their insurance has now more than doubled—from £1,400 to £3,100—they’re hoping a new layer of protection, including a £700 immobiliser system and a custom push-button ignition code, will keep the next one safe.
“There’s almost an element of defiance about it,” he added.
“Like, we’re not going to let these bastards win.”
A Street Where ‘If It’s on the Pavement, It’s Free’
Their neighbourhood, where homes go for around £860,000, has its fair share of petty crime.
“There’s a running joke around here,” Dr. Ganesan said.
“If you leave something on the pavement, it’ll be gone. That’s just how it is.”
Even with their paranoia—keeping car keys inside Faraday pouches and only taking them out right before unlocking the car—it wasn’t enough. The pouches seemed to work.
“If we left the keys inside them while in the car, it would say ‘key not detected,’” she said. But the thieves still found a way.
Disappointment with Police Response
What’s really been bothering them is the police response—or lack of it.
Despite CCTV cameras covering their entire street, no officer has visited them in person.
All communication has been over the phone or by email.
Initially, they were told that police would only pull footage if the car was involved in a serious crime like rape or murder.
That stunned them, especially since they could narrow down the theft to a 20-minute window.
It wasn’t until MailOnline raised questions that Scotland Yard reopened the case.
Dr. Garrard thinks the police tried their best: “I phoned 999, and within ten minutes officers were calling me, saying they were in the area.
I think they really thought they could do something. But in the end… they didn’t.”
Vijeya Isn’t So Forgiving
Dr. Ganesan isn’t as patient. “I feel really p****d off,” she said bluntly.
“There are cameras everywhere, and this is the second time. We knew the time window.
We weren’t asking them to scroll through hundreds of hours of footage.”
She added: “Peter thought the police response was good. I don’t.
When you don’t even hear anything for three days, and then you’re just told the car is gone, I don’t think that’s good enough.”
Hoping Others Can Avoid the Same Nightmare
Now, the couple is speaking out because they don’t want others to fall into the same trap.
Keyless car theft is clearly on the rise, and even taking extra precautions might not be enough.
“We thought the Faraday pouches would protect us,” Dr. Ganesan said. “But clearly, that’s not always the case.
It seems to be an epidemic, and I hope others don’t have to go through what we’ve gone through.”
Police Say They’re Doing What They Can
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said they take all vehicle theft seriously:
“Every report made to police is carefully assessed to identify and pursue any viable lines of enquiry, including forensic evidence and available footage.”
They confirmed that although a tracking device had suggested the car might be in a certain location, officers couldn’t find it when they arrived.
With no more leads, the case had been closed—but is now being re-examined following media attention.
They also encouraged residents to check their website for tips on protecting their vehicles.
A Jeep Might Be Just a Car, But This Feels Personal
Despite everything, Dr. Garrard is trying to keep it in perspective.
“It’s always unpleasant when someone takes what’s yours,” he said. “But in the end, it’s just a thing.”
Still, the frustration, paranoia, and cost they’ve faced isn’t something they’ll forget anytime soon.
And yet, they might just go back and buy that same Jeep for a third time—because some battles, it seems, are worth fighting.