'At one stage one of them nicked the key from the ignition just before jumping out.'
If a jumper did that on one of my lifts I would immediately nick their front teeth with my left fist as soon as I had dead-sticked. They would never get a ride from me again.
Soarfeet, I am a current BPA pilot. Drop me a pm with any questions that you want answered and I might be able to point you in the right direction.
G