How are most cars stolen?

caprikid1

Supersonos wrote: »

So when I'm away for a week and my Range Rover is parked in a hotel car park (so they have no way of knowing who owns it and the keys are nowhere near it) it's impossible to steal it other than to tow it?

And even if they tow it, what can they do with it then other than strip it for parts?

Unless they hang around as you unlock / lock it, clone the key then drive it away ?

Jackmydad

I think that it's a must to accept the fact that cars are far too easily nicked, particularly by hijacking, or home invasion.
If I had the sort of car that was going to be a target, it'd be garaged, and only used for fun.
I'd have a "cooking" motor for the rest of the time.
There again, I don't care about "prestige" cars. I'd rather run around in a five year plus old Peugeot or a Ford, and park it most places and not worry too much. Modern cars are fairly comfortable anyway, and it's not as if you can use any more performance than most have on today's roads.

Exemplar

By people...

marlot

Supersonos wrote: »

Does anyone know of any info about how cars are stolen?

Are they hotwired? Is that even a thing these days? Or are the keys stolen to allow the car to be taken?

Without the keys, can my car be stolen?

I've seen a thing called an Autowatch Ghost and wonder if, with that installed, is my car literally theft-proof (short of lifting it onto a low-loader).

Just strip it for parts?

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9889530/stolen-range-rover-stripped-car-birmingham/

Supersonos

caprikid1 wrote: »

Unless they hang around as you unlock / lock it, clone the key then drive it away ?

True. Is this actually that common? I guess this is where an Autowatch Ghost would come into its element.

AdrianC

Supersonos wrote: »

I guess this is where an Autowatch Ghost would come into its element.

Don't get so hung up on one particular product.

It's just a two-factor authentication immobiliser. They've been around for donkey's years. Peugeot/Citroen had them as standard-fit through the 90s. Turn the key, type in a PIN, start the car. People swore at them as much as by them.


The only thing this particular one does different is use existing buttons and controls, via the multiplexed network.

motorguy

AdrianC wrote: »

Don't get so hung up on one particular product.

It's just a two-factor authentication immobiliser. They've been around for donkey's years. Peugeot/Citroen had them as standard-fit through the 90s. Turn the key, type in a PIN, start the car. People swore at them as much as by them.


The only thing this particular one does different is use existing buttons and controls, via the multiplexed network.

And a Ghost cant easily be bypassed like the Peugeot one could.

[Deleted User]

Having grown up on a diet of The A-Team, The Rockford Files and CHiPs, I can confirm that all cars can be stolen by pulling out a handful of wires from underneath the dashboard, fiddling with them for a few seconds and the car will then roar into life.

The beauty of this technique is that it can be done by anybody with no special training needed.

AdrianC

motorguy wrote: »

And a Ghost cant easily be bypassed like the Peugeot one could.

Yes, it was - but only once you'd put the code in and the green light was on. Open the driver's door with the ignition off? Armed again. Without the code, it wasn't bypassable - it was locked in to the engine management or diesel pump.

The Ghost can be bypassed by simply unplugging it from wherever the installer plugged it into the CanBus - whether the code's been put in or not. Yes, the box is unbranded and can be well hidden... but you tell me that somebody familiar with the car isn't going to find it in fairly short order, especially given how unimaginative installers are going to be when they're against the clock.

Jackmydad

AdrianC wrote: »

Yes, it was - but only once you'd put the code in and the green light was on. Open the driver's door with the ignition off? Armed again. Without the code, it wasn't bypassable - it was locked in to the engine management or diesel pump.

The Ghost can be bypassed by simply unplugging it from wherever the installer plugged it into the CanBus - whether the code's been put in or not. Yes, the box is unbranded and can be well hidden... but you tell me that somebody familiar with the car isn't going to find it in fairly short order, especially given how unimaginative installers are going to be when they're against the clock.

I wondered about this, because my late MILs 106 had the keypad bypassed. Never had to put a code in.
Looking online it appears there were / are ways to do it.
Depends on which model of car it is though, Some are more difficult than others.