Theft of Land Rover Vehicles fitted with Keyless Entry Systems

18.12.2015 by Rovertune

LAND ROVER STOLEN VEHICLE UPDATE (6th April 2016)

TRACKER, the UK’s leading stolen vehicle and recovery specialist has just published its table of the Top 10 stolen and recovered vehicles in the UK during 2015. Unfortunately, for Land Rover owners it does not make good reading as three vehicles appear in that list. At number 1 is the new Range Rover Sport, followed at number 3 by the Range Rover Vogue and the Range Rover Autobiography at number 9.

It is believed that criminals are stealing these high value vehicles to order as it is easy for them to gain access by ‘hacking’ into the keyless entry systems with equipment that can be purchased over the internet and which costs around £30.00, enabling them to bypass the vehicles ignition system. Owners of such vehicles, please take extra care and ensure that your vehicle is properly locked when leaving it unattended. 

For more information click here.

Now returning to the original article published 18th December 2015

The theft of Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and other Land Rover vehicles fitted with Keyless Entry Systems is rising dramatically, particularly in London and the South East of England. What was thought to be a foolproof system to foil criminals from stealing vehicles has now turned out to be an easy task for them in an operation which can be carried out within seconds and is achieved without any damage to the vehicle whatsoever. There is though a simple remedy that owners can take which will deter thieves and make them think twice about stealing a vehicle.

Security technology on vehicles has evolved over many years and recently has become ever more complex in order to satisfy the needs to increase the protection of owner’s property and also the stringent requirements of vehicle insurance companies. However, criminals (car thieves) have also kept abreast of these new technologies and are now one jump ahead of what was thought to be a fool proof security system which to some owners cost has now been found to be an easy method of bypassing. Hence, the result is a massive increase recently in the theft of ‘high end’ value vehicles. Range Rovers and other Land Rover vehicles with keyless entry systems fall into this category.

Police forces across the country are recommending that Land Rover and Range Rover owners now revert back to basics and apply the technology of the 1980’s and 1990’s and fit a Disklok steering wheel lock, a simple Crook Lock or Pedal Box to supplement the keyless entry system when their vehicle is left unattended at any time.

Typically, a thief plugs a devise into the vehicles diagnostic port found in the passenger foot well.  This is used to reprogram a blank “key” essentially a piece of plastic with a transponder inside. The vehicle can then be driven away just by pressing the start button. To gain access to the vehicle in the first place, thieves can block the locking signal from the fob (using local Wi-Fi hot spots) thus fooling the owner into thinking the vehicle has been locked. This whole process takes a matter of seconds.

Thatcham (the research centre set up by motor insurers that assesses vehicle security) is working with manufactures to overcome the problem. It wants communication between the diagnostic port and the vehicles computer removed so that no reprogramming can be done without the original key in place. One drawback with this system is that it will be very costly if the owner loses the original key. Meanwhile, current keyless entry vehicles will still remain vulnerable to theft.

So in the meantime it will be better to supplement your latest modern vehicle security systems with a reversion back to the older 80’s and 90’s ‘basic technology’ of fitting visible theft deterrents in order to be SAFER THAN SORRY.

Dislock Steering Wheel Locks are well engineered and fitted with a top quality lock. When fitted, thieves are unable to smash the vehicles steering lock. Traditional Bar Locks (Crook Lock) are also a visual and reasonable deterent. For those who do not wish to fit these visual items, pedal boxes are more discrete. This is a sturdy metal box with a locking lid that encloses the pedals (brakes and clutch if fitted), when locked shut the vehicle is impossible to drive.

All the above can be purchased from traditional motor part stores and specialist suppliers.

FOOTNOTE (LAND ROVER DEFENDER THEFT)

It is not just Land Rover vehicles which have keyless entry systems that are vulnerable to theft, other manufacurers vehicles are vulnerable too.  We here at Rovertune know a number of customers who have suffered the theft of their Land Rover, as well as hearing many stories of others who have suffered a similar experience. So, we suggest that all owners of Land Rover vehicles, especially the Defender model also take the same precautions as mentioned in the article above.

The Defender is a very desirable vehicle for thieves, as they can be easily stripped for parts and also can be stripped and completely rebuilt into a customised vehicle ready to be exported, or sold on within the UK, or abroard. Of all the modern vehicles on sale today the Defender is the least thief-proof vehicle available. If you are a Defender owner, please for your own security and peace of mind always fit a visible manual security device (steering wheel or pedal lock) when the vehicle is left unattended at any time. If possible you should also have some form of Tracking device fitted and permanent security markings on windows and body panels.

LAND ROVER DEFENDER THEFT UPDATE (6th April 2016)

The theft of Land Rover Defender vehicles continues to increase at an alarming rate all across the country, since production of this icon came to a halt at the end of January, 2016. If statistics were available showing the number of thefts since production ceased we think they would be frightening as we are hearing of so many and seeing so many when viewing various social media sites. This follows on from some areas reporting a 69% increase in thefts last year alone

Rural insurer NFU Mutual has released today some staggering figures of the costs it has paid out to Defender owners during 2015, a sum of £1.8m. That is just one insurer; think what this figure will be when every other insurers cost are taken into account. So, Defender owners please take extra care to safeguard your beloved vehicle and remember very few are ever recovered.

For more information please click here

FURTHER UPDATE ON LAND ROVER DEFENDER THEFT (14th April 2016).

A recent article published by Autocar magazine gives an update on the value insurers have paid out to people following the theft of their Defender vehicles in two other regions to that published in the update above (6th April 2016). This clearly indicates that the theft of these iconic vehicles is big business all across the country. So once again, to all owners of Land Rover Defenders please be careful and guard against having your vehicle stolen. 

For further information please click here.

Also, when your vehicle is parked outside your house, whether you are indoors, or out, it is always advisable to keep your vehicle keys hidden away in a place only known to yourself, and not in the usual places that a thief will look should they break-in with the sole intention of stealing keys in order to steal your vehicle. 

Here is a situation that we have heard about which really brings home the point about some added visual security for your vehicle. A customer of ours had a break-in at his home where thieves ransacked his home office and during the burglary found the customers Range Rover keys. Only a matter of days before the break-in the Range Rover was in at Rovertune where just over £2500 of work was carried out. Having found the keys, they decided to steal the Range Rover, but needed to get though locked gates on the drive. Not to be deterred, what did they do, they just drove the vehicle straight through the customers fence and away. A steering lock or pedal lock if fitted in all probability may well have prevented that vehicle theft.