Most people would walk away after having their car stolen once—let alone twice.
But not this resilient couple. Instead of backing down, two NHS neurologists living in North London are standing their ground and, incredibly, considering buying their third Jeep Wrangler in just over a month.
A Shocking Easter Surprise Outside Their Home
Dr. Vijeya Ganesan, 57, and Dr. Peter Garrard, 64, had no idea Easter Sunday would bring anything other than a relaxing day at home.
But when they stepped outside their house—where they’ve lived for nearly three decades—they found their beloved £47,500 Jeep Wrangler had vanished.
The car wasn’t just for show. It was their go-to for long road trips and adventures with their Border Terrier, Gus.
Not to be defeated, they used the insurance money to buy the exact same model and color again—this time spending £54,000.
Despite High-Tech Protection, Thieves Strike Again
This time around, the couple wasn’t taking any chances.
They bought Faraday pouches (which block key cloning signals), and even tucked an AirTag inside the glove box to help trace the vehicle if anything happened.
But just ten days after picking up their new Jeep, it too was stolen—again, from the same exact spot on their street.
And heartbreakingly, Gus’s dog bed was taken both times, since it had been left inside the vehicle.
AirTag Led to a Dead End
When the couple saw a signal from the AirTag, it appeared their car had been dumped in Hackney.
Police quickly headed over, but by the time they arrived, the car was gone.
It seems the thieves had discovered and discarded the tracker.
What really stunned them, though, was that other high-end cars like Porsches and Lamborghinis on their street hadn’t been touched.
Vijeya suspects that Jeep Wranglers are being targeted—and she’s not alone.
Jeep Thefts on the Rise Across London
Turns out, they’re part of a troubling trend. In the same month, LBC radio host Nick Ferrari also had his Jeep Wrangler stolen from outside his home.
Many now fear these cars are being “stolen to order” and shipped overseas.
This isn’t the first time Drs. Ganesan and Garrard have been unlucky—their bikes have been stolen twice in the past too.
But instead of giving up, they’re seriously considering buying a third Jeep Wrangler. Talk about determination.
“We Did Everything Right—And Still Lost It”
Peter confessed that after the second theft, he felt “a bit stupid and very unlucky” despite taking what they believed were solid precautions.
“I’m terrified we won’t be insurable anymore,” he added, concerned about the fact that both cars were stolen from the exact same location.
But he’s trying to stay philosophical. “In the end, it’s just an object,” he said.
Though now, their insurance has shot up from £1,400 to £3,100 a year.
Still Not Ready to Give In
Even with the rising costs and theft risk, Peter says he’s not ready to quit on the Jeep.
“It’s a great car and perfect for our long road trips,” he explained.
“There’s almost an element of defiance in getting another one.
Like, we’re not going to let these bastards win.”
To give their next car a fighting chance, the couple has invested £700 in extra security, including an immobiliser and a custom button sequence that works like a digital passcode to start the vehicle.
A Neighbourhood Where “If You Leave It, It’s Gone”
Vijeya says their neighborhood, where homes average around £860,000, has a running joke: if you leave anything on the pavement, it’s probably gone by morning. “There’s been a lot of petty theft,” she said.
Despite all that, they were religious about keeping their keys safe—never removing them from their Faraday pouches except to get into the car.
“If the keys were still in the pouch, the car wouldn’t even detect them,” she said, proving how cautious they were.
A Frustrating Lack of Police Action
After both thefts, the couple reported everything to the police.
Their street is full of CCTV cameras, but oddly, no one from the Met Police has ever visited them in person.
They were told officers would only review footage if the vehicle had been used in a major crime like rape or murder.
Police later clarified that this isn’t quite true—officers can investigate further if the theft timeframe is narrowed down to within 20 minutes.
After media pressure, Scotland Yard has now reopened the case.
Police Say They Responded Seriously—But Did They?
Peter believes the initial response was good. “I called 999 and within ten minutes, officers were in the area,” he recalled.
But the momentum didn’t last. “I didn’t hear back for days, and then got an email saying the case had been closed.”
Vijeya wasn’t so forgiving. “I’m just really p****d off. We knew the exact time frame, we had the tracker, we had cameras—and still, no action. It’s pathetic.”
A Warning to Other Drivers About Keyless Theft
Their main message now is to warn other people about the rise of keyless car theft. Vijeya said: “We really thought we’d done enough with the Faraday pouches.
We don’t want anyone else to go through this nonsense.”
In response, the Metropolitan Police issued a statement saying: “We understand the impact motor vehicle crime has on victims.
Every report is carefully assessed for viable lines of inquiry.”
They added that although the AirTag had provided a location, the car was not found and no further evidence was available at the time, which is why the case was initially closed.