Methods of a car thief - unmasked
Discussion
liner33 said:
gottans said:
As for the ODB port issue, simple solution is to make sure this is not live without the ignition being on, leaving it powered all the time was a serious but basic security error.
.
That wouldn't work , think about how modern cars work .
Modern cars full of electronics can be programmed to do almost anything, leaving the ODB active even when the car is locked is the height of stupidity. Car manufacturers that do this need a massive kick in the corporate gonads.
I think the o.p should have a list of the most stolen cars at the moment to make people aware.
Its hard to say though as each list ive seen has different cars on it, some lists dont even mention the audi s3/golf r which is the most stolen on other lists. Fast fords seem to be stolen a lot but never on the most stolen list either its very confusing.
Its hard to say though as each list ive seen has different cars on it, some lists dont even mention the audi s3/golf r which is the most stolen on other lists. Fast fords seem to be stolen a lot but never on the most stolen list either its very confusing.
dieseluser07 said:
I think the o.p should have a list of the most stolen cars at the moment to make people aware.
Its hard to say though as each list ive seen has different cars on it, some lists dont even mention the audi s3/golf r which is the most stolen on other lists. Fast fords seem to be stolen a lot but never on the most stolen list either its very confusing.
I thin it depends if yo are looking at actual number stolen vs % stolen from the number on the road.Its hard to say though as each list ive seen has different cars on it, some lists dont even mention the audi s3/golf r which is the most stolen on other lists. Fast fords seem to be stolen a lot but never on the most stolen list either its very confusing.
High end Audi, BMW and Golf thefts are bad around Bradford/Leeds/Wakefield, especially last year.
Last year there was a gang who had a very accurate list of the new car locations. I understand that the police suspect a leak somewhere in insurance, DVLA or financial services, as the cars targeted included ones that had only just been delivered, and some that were in very remote locations.
With the OBD port worries... Just take it out of the recess under the dash and cable tie it up out of the way. It’ll take probably about 15-20mins tops and best of all is free! Only pain in the arse is come servicing time you’ll have to drop it back down again, for diagnostics/service light resetting etc.
Fuel cut off switches are another great mod to do. If you’re not savvy enough to give it a go, it would probably take a decent auto electrician an hour or two at most to rig something up so doesn’t cost the earth!
Home security is a blessing too, not only better for security but gives you peace of mind too. I have some 90 degree additional window locks which I adapted and fitted to my UPVC front door so at night time we can drop them across and the door feels absolutely fortified.
I still reserve that a decent Stoplok/Disclok type physical detterent is probably the best thing you can do though.
Fuel cut off switches are another great mod to do. If you’re not savvy enough to give it a go, it would probably take a decent auto electrician an hour or two at most to rig something up so doesn’t cost the earth!
Home security is a blessing too, not only better for security but gives you peace of mind too. I have some 90 degree additional window locks which I adapted and fitted to my UPVC front door so at night time we can drop them across and the door feels absolutely fortified.
I still reserve that a decent Stoplok/Disclok type physical detterent is probably the best thing you can do though.
liner33 said:
70proof said:
DoubleD said:
Why is his comment stupid? I also like keyless entry. Grab the door handle and go.
His comment has no relevance to the thread really, who cares about his personal preferences and justifications for such....dont order keyless entry on a new car.... such a gimmick and for the truly lazy!
As pointed out some people like keyless entry
You can’t point out that people’s opinion is opinion. You need to read it as FACT. Because anything other than their opinion is not FACT and is therefore wrong and therefore not worthy of this thread.
Keyless entry is completely and utterly a gimmick and for lazy people.
As is power assisted steering. Central locking. And form of remote locking. Sat nav. ABS. auto wipers. Auto lights. Automatic gearbox. Anything that does the work for you is for the lazy and just a gimmick. So is a horse. It’s for the lazy. So are shoes.
It’s all the thin end of the wedge.
PS - my car doesn’t have keyless entry. I wish it did but then I’m lazy and like gimmicks.
PPS - everything above is tongue firmly in cheek banter and not to be questioned. Because it’s fact.
70proof said:
unfortunately car theft is once again on the rise.... i've been the victim myself recently....
one way to fight back is to share knowledge of how they work, and this thread is exactly that, i've decided to share the knowledge i've gained on the topic - the better educated we are, the harder it'll be for them i suppose....
mods, i think it should be a sticky, and i'd be most grateful if people didn't take it off track, and only add constructively...
where to start....
the obd port thing... and electronic keys.... if a thief can access the obd port, they can reprogram the car to work with another key (or reprogram another key) .... was a big thing for bmw's at one point as the port could be accessed easily via the drivers window, i've heard of some people getting the obd port electronically switched off... would be good for someone to post a list of the most vulnerable make/cars
key block and cloning.... when you bip the fob to open or lock the door, the thief, who has to be physically nearby, either blocks the signal with a jammer, or records the signal.... i set my wing mirrors to retract on locking, so i'll know as i walk away the car has locked, you can lock and pull the handle, but how many walk off as locking..... if your signal is recorded, the key is cloned.... not much you can do there i suppose
car jacking.... seemingly on the rise..... if you are in the car, having auto door locking on and keeping the windows closed is a good place to start.... in a car park, get off your phone etc and have your senses about you, esp if you walking to your car and you think you're being followed, walk on and dont go near your car..... seems targeted cars are followed at times, and i've read some stories of people realising they were being followed, so obviously if you are, drive somewhere safe and public, not home! also, be weary of being pulled by a fake cop car, helping a broken down car, and this one's great - if you get eggs thrown on your screen, do not activate your wipers, drive as is..... wipers and cleaner and egg white mixes badly, you'll have to pull over in yards!
keyless entry... the fob is always transmitting.... this is the new thing on the block at the moment.... thieves use an ariel receiver to pick up this signal and then boost it to access and drive away your car... mainly used for cars parked on driveways etc.... you can by 'faraday' pouches of amazon to put your keys into, and they block the signal... dont keep your keys near the door/front of house is the other thing... dont order keyless entry on a new car.... such a gimmick and for the truly lazy!
theft with keys... they break into your house, or fish the keys you via your letter box if you allow them too.... parking on your driveway is seemingly not a good thing now! obviously be vigilant re being followed home but i have read of cases where gps trackers have been placed onto target cars and then tracked later! there are tiny pet trackers now that could be placed anywhere with a bit of tape/glue
re gps trackers... most work off a sim card and can be blocked by simple devices.... battery powered ones are the ones used to track your car by them... you can use them too, great to hide anywhere but you have to change the battery regularly.... you can buy wired systems eg https://www.autocom-shop.co.uk/product/gps-bike-tr... which doesn't seem a big outlay really..... read a lot of stories re the cars being parked up once stolen to see if tracked so maybe blockers are not that common... a real pro won't care i guess..... the subscription systems require a fob and car to be together.... but not sure that matters if the cars signal is blocked!
key swap..... suppose this is most pertinent to sellers/dealers, but the thief switching the spare key for another or a fake during a viewing
not sure i've covered everything, but i'll add later if i remember more....
i've not listed 'hot cars' here, but it seems 4wd german hot hatches and rs models are very popular for getaway cars and breaking, and suv's for export out of country
i've also not gone into prevention devices.... really think the manufacturers need to do more, esp this keyless thing, seems a joke.... seems like the good old physical locking devices for the steering wheel are coming back in fashion...
and happy to be corrected if ive said something incorrect
I think the most important thing to be taken from this is to be aware of your keys.one way to fight back is to share knowledge of how they work, and this thread is exactly that, i've decided to share the knowledge i've gained on the topic - the better educated we are, the harder it'll be for them i suppose....
mods, i think it should be a sticky, and i'd be most grateful if people didn't take it off track, and only add constructively...
where to start....
the obd port thing... and electronic keys.... if a thief can access the obd port, they can reprogram the car to work with another key (or reprogram another key) .... was a big thing for bmw's at one point as the port could be accessed easily via the drivers window, i've heard of some people getting the obd port electronically switched off... would be good for someone to post a list of the most vulnerable make/cars
key block and cloning.... when you bip the fob to open or lock the door, the thief, who has to be physically nearby, either blocks the signal with a jammer, or records the signal.... i set my wing mirrors to retract on locking, so i'll know as i walk away the car has locked, you can lock and pull the handle, but how many walk off as locking..... if your signal is recorded, the key is cloned.... not much you can do there i suppose
car jacking.... seemingly on the rise..... if you are in the car, having auto door locking on and keeping the windows closed is a good place to start.... in a car park, get off your phone etc and have your senses about you, esp if you walking to your car and you think you're being followed, walk on and dont go near your car..... seems targeted cars are followed at times, and i've read some stories of people realising they were being followed, so obviously if you are, drive somewhere safe and public, not home! also, be weary of being pulled by a fake cop car, helping a broken down car, and this one's great - if you get eggs thrown on your screen, do not activate your wipers, drive as is..... wipers and cleaner and egg white mixes badly, you'll have to pull over in yards!
keyless entry... the fob is always transmitting.... this is the new thing on the block at the moment.... thieves use an ariel receiver to pick up this signal and then boost it to access and drive away your car... mainly used for cars parked on driveways etc.... you can by 'faraday' pouches of amazon to put your keys into, and they block the signal... dont keep your keys near the door/front of house is the other thing... dont order keyless entry on a new car.... such a gimmick and for the truly lazy!
theft with keys... they break into your house, or fish the keys you via your letter box if you allow them too.... parking on your driveway is seemingly not a good thing now! obviously be vigilant re being followed home but i have read of cases where gps trackers have been placed onto target cars and then tracked later! there are tiny pet trackers now that could be placed anywhere with a bit of tape/glue
re gps trackers... most work off a sim card and can be blocked by simple devices.... battery powered ones are the ones used to track your car by them... you can use them too, great to hide anywhere but you have to change the battery regularly.... you can buy wired systems eg https://www.autocom-shop.co.uk/product/gps-bike-tr... which doesn't seem a big outlay really..... read a lot of stories re the cars being parked up once stolen to see if tracked so maybe blockers are not that common... a real pro won't care i guess..... the subscription systems require a fob and car to be together.... but not sure that matters if the cars signal is blocked!
key swap..... suppose this is most pertinent to sellers/dealers, but the thief switching the spare key for another or a fake during a viewing
not sure i've covered everything, but i'll add later if i remember more....
i've not listed 'hot cars' here, but it seems 4wd german hot hatches and rs models are very popular for getaway cars and breaking, and suv's for export out of country
i've also not gone into prevention devices.... really think the manufacturers need to do more, esp this keyless thing, seems a joke.... seems like the good old physical locking devices for the steering wheel are coming back in fashion...
and happy to be corrected if ive said something incorrect
Edited by 70proof on Sunday 19th November 10:22
The first one I heard about - I think it locks your gearstick - I think it's called a Shift Key.
The second is to stop people stealing your tyre valve covers.
That's called a Caps Lock Key
The Mad Monk said:
What does that mean?
If you've never had the pleasure/misfortune of visiting Bradford this video tells you all you need to know about Bradford.Also a good case for the inclusion of a new word to the OED - 'ramping'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU-WSF4aMyE
Is this what happens when negotiations on buying a new Bentley turn sour? (only in Bradford)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptQe_MYnSqY
Bradford, England (no idea what caused this)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukk-lWQ8sBk
Edited by rallycross on Sunday 19th November 17:51
Edited by rallycross on Sunday 19th November 17:53
Perd Hapley said:
Another scam to watch out for: a man on the street asks to see your car keys for a second. While you're looking away, he makes an impression of them in a bar of soap.
😁 This happened to me once . When the man asked to see my car keys ,I said I didn't have them on me,he said ok and we walked on . Lucky escape eh. rallycross said:
If you've never had the pleasure/misfortune of visiting Bradford this video tells you all you need to know about Bradford.
Also a good case for the inclusion of a new word to the OED - 'ramping'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU-WSF4aMyE
Is this what happens when negotiations on buying a new Bentley turn sour? (only in Bradford)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptQe_MYnSqY
Wow! I like to pretend these people do not existAlso a good case for the inclusion of a new word to the OED - 'ramping'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU-WSF4aMyE
Is this what happens when negotiations on buying a new Bentley turn sour? (only in Bradford)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptQe_MYnSqY
Edited by rallycross on Sunday 19th November 17:51
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