Successes

One client asked Bill to visit a storage compound and inspect a 2002 Ford Focus, recovered after being reported stolen. Having previously inspected the keys for the vehicle he was happy that the keys handed in were both original to the vehicle. The tool marks on the keys were in keeping with factory made keys and the transponder dates correspond with the appropriate lead time to the vehicle production date. The key number also matched that on file by the original selling dealership. Upon inspection, the vehicle displayed no theft entry damage, nor did it have any signs of being stolen without a key - i.e. steering lock still intact, immobiliser ECU shield still intact. The policy holder made a sworn statement to declare that the keys had not been out of his posession at any time (therefore I can rule out theft by cloned key), and upon interrogating the immobiliser it only knew the two original keys therefore had to have been driven to the place of abandonment with one of the true keys by the policy holder or an accomplice . The vehicle was in typically poor condition and it would seem had been reported "stolen" in order to commit fraud against the insurer. My client was able to successfully repudiate this claim.

Diagnostic tester shows that Keys Known = 2 (ruling out extra keys being programmed to steal the vehicle). PH's sworn statement ruled out the potential of a cloned key existing, hence vehicle can only have been driven to the "dump" locus with one of its 2 true keys. Claim repudiated!

"Woooooow wo woooooaaaah, my Passat's on fire..."

One "flaming" fibber of a PH submitted a claim for the loss of his 2001 Passat. He claims it was stolen, only to be found abandoned with minor interior fire damage. There were no signs of a break in.. because the PH drove the car to the burn locus himself, set fire to the interior, shut and locked the doors with his key and then "hot footed" it away. The fire quickly went out due to a lack of oxygen due to the doors and windows being shut. He should have spotted the CCTV camera... it spotted him!!

Ambersett is now working with a Spanish Insurance Claims Handler, with offices in mainland Spain and Gibraltar in partnership with Eurotecs. This new partnership brings a new technical angle to compliment the investigation service already offered by Kevin Street of Eurotecs.