Lets talk about modern car thefts

fastfredracing · 03:50 AM

I just saw a post online, where a girls car was stolen, They screwdrivered out the door lock, and bashed in the ignition lock cylinder . The car was recovered about 10 miles from her house
A lock smith chimed in on that thread, saying inside job. You cant get past the immobilizer
They tore him up , and called him all sort of names, but he is right .. You can smash out the locks all you want, but the car is not going to start without the key
The only professional car thief I knew, had a guy on the inside who could get him keys .
The days of slide hammering out the lock cylinder went away with the carburetor ,
There was a show on TV a few years ago, showing how car thieves could read your cars immobilzer signals, even from outside your house, and duplicate that signal to make the car start ,
,
I myself know how to defeat Vats on a lot of GM vehicles, but no way , I could pull it off in the dark in someones driveway , in a few minutes .
Seems like they would need some pretty expensive equipment ,and expertise,
The car in the thread I was reading was a hyundai, maybe worth 10k . Highly doubtful, that tweekers needing a ride have this equipment or technology,
So , cars are still getting stolen, how are they doing it ?

asphaltgambler · 02-05-2021, 03:56 AM

Agree - modern vehicles have had body control modules where the ignition key has some type of transponder that is wireless where it 'shakes hands' with. Defeating the mechanical part only allows the engine to be cranked. You have fuel pressure, injector pulse or spark.

So no - no ones doing that, too much work for nothing.

mattdavis11 · 02-05-2021, 04:38 AM

Not sure. I tried and failed after installing a new immobilizer and lock cylinder. The parts (key included) came together from a wrecked car, so they were once programmed to be together.

Our car had issues beyond that, a locksmith had botched the programming process after a re-key, blowing some fuses. Later, the lock cylinder froze because he drilled out a pin and didn't put another back in.

All good now, but for weeks I couldn't steal my own car, and I had it torn down to the steering column to replace all the stuff.

Arizona_928 · 02-05-2021, 04:45 AM

I agree. Crime of opportunity. Left it running.

Or targeted car for parts, export, ect

Helix8 · Helix8's Garage

Modern car thefts happen in broad daylight

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago's carjacking spree is spinning violently out of control, with at least five of the crimes being reported a day across the city right now.

In the first month of this year, Chicago police reported 218 carjackings, a 283% increase when compared to the same time period last year. In January 2020, there were 77 carjackings.

fastfredracing · 02-05-2021, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helix8

Modern car thefts happen in broad daylight

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago's carjacking spree is spinning violently out of control, with at least five of the crimes being reported a day across the city right now.

In the first month of this year, Chicago police reported 218 carjackings, a 283% increase when compared to the same time period last year. In January 2020, there were 77 carjackings.

I was just reading about that on the Landlord forums yesterday also . Crazy. It will catch on in other places .
Go ahead, pull on my door handle , you will either get the ride of your life, or eat lead, maybe both

mattdavis11 · 02-05-2021, 05:27 AM

From what I've been told and seen, most thefts (not jackings) have a shield, by that I mean they operate under the auspice that they are a towing or repossession business. They yank the car at night, dump it, and come back later when they can better well blend in to the normal function of the business, especially a towing company. Not many repos happening right now.

What happened to me, someone stole the keys while I was shooting the bull and working on the car. Just a passerby, never met the guy. I saw a flatbed/rollback in my neighborhood nearly everyday checking to see if I had moved my car, and if it was still blocked in.

JackDidley · JackDidley's Garage

You are right Fred. Only way to start a new car is with a key or some high tech equiptment. GM cars could once be started if you wired in the correct value resistor. Those days are over. I think now if someone is out to steal a car they just find one with a key still in it. Or carjack it. I live in a very small town and that is no likely to happen.

dad911 · 02-05-2021, 05:49 AM

Many people leave a valet key in the glove box/owner's manual.

I was at a meeting 6ish years ago with my brother, when we came out, his car door handle was smashed, contents of the glove box dumped on the floor.

Happened to dozens of cars in the lot that night, just specific makes. His was a lexus, as I recall bmws were targeted also. Police told us some cars, when the drivers door handle is broken in a certain way, the window goes down, and the thieves get right in.

Anyone that night that had left the valet key in the glove box (and there were quite a few) their car was gone.

HardDrive · 02-05-2021, 05:52 AM

You guys are assuming that the interaction between key and the immobilizer cannot be captured from outside the car. Any system that relies on the keys proximity to the vehicle can be captured (keyless entry), and the person does not need to be standing there to do it.

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/wireless-key-fob-cars/275-c3b4e222-66e9-4f46-9a77-ee7464ca22ed

911 Rod · 911 Rod's Garage

My understanding is they copy the program for keyless entry/starter.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

As for OTA transmission keys, IIRC they use a rolling code to defeat sniffing.

Seen a documentary on how they jack chevy trucks with the ECU underhood by having two guys- one drops the key cylinder in the column to install an new lock and key, the other swaps the ECU underhood to one that matches the code to the new key. In under 60 seconds.

As for my own stuff, I install alarms (Yes, I LIKE Cliffords)- with the following changes:

All power connections come directly from the column- not the battery. If someone pops the hood, there's no wiring to yank to kill the alarm and it looks cleaner. Also, you disconnect the bat to shut up the alarm the car is now dead.

No siren- directly to car horn. Horn honks instead of that annoying 6 tone siren everyone ignores. Also, no siren to rip out.

Pins at all doors hood and trunk.

The biggest thing I fear- a thief with a tow truck. I simply won't take my cars places where that is an increased possibility: Las Vegas.

rjp

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardDrive

You guys are assuming that the interaction between key and the immobilizer cannot be captured from outside the car. Any system that relies on the keys proximity to the vehicle can be captured (keyless entry), and the person does not need to be standing there to do it.

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/wireless-key-fob-cars/275-c3b4e222-66e9-4f46-9a77-ee7464ca22ed

Thank god a modern car is insurable, and the cop's suggestion of a 'club' LOL- they cut the steering wheel instead.

1990C4S · 02-05-2021, 08:48 AM

Cheap cars? They have a key, probably stolen. Or the owner wanted the car gone.

I've had a few cars where I wouldn't care if they were stolen and insurance paid me....

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

Milwaukee has been in the news because of the spike in car thefts. Apparently, Kia is the car of choice. https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/mpd-hyundai-and-kia-vehicles-too-easy-to-steal-leading-to-spike-in-car-thefts

In Chicago, there is a big spike in car hijackings - drivers are forced out of their cars at gun point. Mostly teens, the cars are taken for joy rides.