High-tech thieves fuel new vehicle crime wave

Organised gangs of criminals are hacking into the personal computer systems of modern cars to steal them. But you can take methods to ensure you don’t fall victim.

High-tech criminals are major to a resurgence in the number of automobiles stolen in the UK.

An escalating reliance on keyless engine-beginning systems in modern cars is becoming exploited by thieves who are in a position to clone drivers’ fobs.

Security warning

Now police forces around the nation are warning motorists to implement additional safety measures to prevent the thefts.

Most vehicles that start off with a fob rather than an ignition crucial enable mechanics to connect to the on-board personal computer and make a copy.

This is in case the driver loses or damages their original fob.

But hackers are managing to do the very same factor utilizing a couple of pieces of inexpensive electronic equipment.

17 thefts a day

This month, police in London revealed that on average 17 automobiles a day have been being stolen in this way in the capital, representing almost half of all car thefts.

Detective Chief Superintendent Carl Bussey runs the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Endeavour, which has been set up to combat keyless automobile theft.

He mentioned that officers have been encouraging drivers to take extra actions to safeguard their autos.

“Keyless car theft is organised and there are crime groups generating a lot of income from selling on the vehicles and vans they steal,” Bussey added.

‘Damaging our communities’;

“This cash is going back into committing serious crime in our communities.

“We are determined to minimize the quantity of criminals damaging our communities in this way.”

Figures from the AA show that the trend in car theft has shown a extended-term decline because peaking at around 700,000 a year in the early 1990s.

By 2013, this figure had fallen to about 75,000. But the price is thought to be increasing again, with numerous thefts being carried out to order by organised gangs and shipped abroad.

How to foil the thieves

The new wave of keyless thefts seems to be targeting vans such as Ford Transits and Mercedes Sprinters as nicely as high-worth, prestige cars such as BMWs, Land Rovers and Range Rovers.

The Met has published a series of safety ideas for drivers concerned they could grow to be victims of keyless thefts. These contain:

• Park in an open, nicely-lit and secure area if feasible. Use a garage if you have a single or make sure your automobile is in view of CCTV cameras.


• Match an alarm or immobiliser.


• Use a steering wheel lock and/or gearstick lock.


• Take into account having an on-board diagnostics (OBD) lock fitted.


• Contemplate fitting a tracker so that if your car is stolen police have far more likelihood of finding it.

The police also say it is important to make sure all windows, the sunroof and boot are shut and locked when you leave your automobile, no matter how long for.

Verify your auto is locked

Criminals often use radio jammers to block the door-locking signal from fobs: this is why you ought to use the door handles to physically check that your auto is indeed locked.

If thieves can get inside your car, it makes it less complicated for them to access your on-board computer.

Police are placing pressure on companies to boost their vehicles’ safety systems.

They are also seeking at how to make it far more challenging for criminals to get hold of the gear they want to carry out this kind of theft.

High-tech thieves fuel new vehicle crime wave