New Method of Car Theft

Please see below a message from Croydon Neighbourhood Watch about a new method of stealing cars.

Good evening,

The following information has come from a co-ordinator who had CCTV footage of the following car theft…..

Sadly I need to warn you about a new (to me) method of car crime that is happening in our area. This is where thieves remove a car headlight to expose certain connections, which they then use to start the engine and steal the car. Hackers inject malicious code into a car’s electronic network via headlight wires, fooling the car into thinking the key is in place.

Here is a report from a resident who recently had their Toyota RAV4 stolen using this method:

“Our car was taken in less than one minute using the method where he unplugged the driver’s headlight and powered up the vehicle via the CAN network. I have captured it all on CCTV. However, a week later and the police have not been able to recover the vehicle. Fortunately, we didn’t have much in the car other than the child seat and buggy and we’re all OK”.

We all know about the ‘Hanoi theft’ method where thieves use a laptop to ‘talk’ to keyless cars, but this method is news to me. It is shocking how quickly greedy thieves find new ways to steal other people’s property.  I have now looked this up online, and find that it is happening all over the place, especially to certain Toyota, Hyundai and Kia models. Check the details out for yourselves. Do an internet search for: Thieves steal cars using headlight connectors.

Advice:

• Do not leave anything of value in your car.
• Get a strong, visible, steering wheel lock, and use it!  Taking this off means extra hassle and noise for thieves, who will, hopefully, leave your car alone.
• If you own a new Toyota, Hyundai or Kia car, ask your supplier if there are any security methods you can use to help prevent the headlights being removed so easily.
• Buy a ‘Faraday Pouch’ to keep your car keys in the house, and use it.

Thank you to our neighbour for alerting us to this new threat, and offering some very sensible advice. Letting other people know, and warning them, is one way to get back at these greedy thieves. We all need to make things much harder for them.

Summer Holidays – if you are planning to go away for a few days, please make time to think about security for your house:

• A week before you go on holiday contact a trusted neighbour or friend. Arrange for them to make sure that any post delivered to your house is not left ‘on view’ in your porch, and that ‘pizza leaflets’ are not left hanging out of your letterbox for all to see. Ask them to pick up any wind-blown litter in your front drive. Litter and piles of post are clear signs to passing criminals that your house is empty.
• Arrange for your refuse bins to be put out and then away on collection day.
• Arrange pet care.
• Lights on at Night – Buy light switch timers so that your house looks occupied at night when you are out. Most big supermarkets sell these. They are not expensive.  

Thank you to all of our vigilant co-ordinators.

Natalie Gordon – Office Manager

Neighbourhood Watch Croydon

nhw@cbnwa.com

07454 573453

www.cbnwa.com

@CBNWA

Registered Charity number 1087760