It is well known within the automotive industry that the use of electronic theft tools is becoming an increasingly popular technique for thieves targeting modern vehicles. Theft of keys in order to steal the vehicle is still the quickest, easiest and most successful method of defeating modern security systems, but a growing number of thieves are avoiding the risk and using technology to bypass the locking systems, alarms and immobilisers. However, it is only more recently that this information is reaching the general public, and there have been a number of reports in consumer media discussing the myths and facts relating to these tools.

SBD have been tracking developments in the use of electronic theft tools for some time now, and our in-house research shows a large scale increase in the number of reports of thefts using this technique, as well as a growth in the number of countries and regions where these tools are being used. SBD have seen that electronic theft tools are particularly popular in Russia and Eastern Europe, as well as having a growing presence in African countries; such as Namibia and South Africa, and are appearing in reports from as far and wide as China and the USA.

What types of tools are being used for vehicle theft?

Once of the biggest issues concerning thefts using electronic methods is trying to determine which tool was used to conduct the attack on the vehicle. There are a large variety of tools available on the global market that conduct different functions that thieves can utilise; including key programming, ECU programming and directly bypassing the vehicle’s locking, alarm or immobiliser system. These attacks usually require a direct connection to the vehicle’s electrical wiring, but are often achieved without any evidence of damage to the vehicle, making it very difficult to detect what has happened if the vehicle is recovered, or for a buyer to be alerted that the car may have been tampered with.

SBD have conducted extensive research to determine the number of and types of electronic theft tools that are available to thieves for use during vehicle theft. Our research has shown that the internet has provided thieves with a globally available, highly accessible and potentially low cost source for acquiring theft tools, with prices ranging from less than €20, up to €30,000. Whilst many of these tools are manufactured in China, they are also being produced across Europe and in the USA.

As the use of electronic theft tools becomes a global phenomenon, industry experts need to work closely with government and police agencies to try to tackle the growing problem, and improve security against these attacks.

These tools are explained in more depth in our recently released “Electronic Theft Threats Database.” It describes the electronic tools that SBD are aware of that can be used for the purpose of stealing or gaining access to vehicles; detailing availability, functionality and which of 66 vehicle manufacturers they claim to be able to manipulate.

For more information on incidences of thefts using electronic theft tools, SBD provide a subscription service to supply monthly reports with a summary of the latest trends gleaned from inside sources across the law enforcement and insurance communities in over 20 countries.

SBD have also published two FREE white papers on the subject, entitled “How are thieves stealing modern vehicles?” and “Defining Vehicle Theft and Organised Crime”, which explore the methods and techniques being used by thieves to steal vehicles.

For more information on SBD’s research, and to receive your FREE copies of the above white papers, please email our Vehicle Security research team on security@sbd.co.uk