1 - crooks are always ahead of the cops
Yeah a couple of stories like these popped up in Atlanta this summer.
Man says thieves used 'decoding' device to steal truck
By:
Denise Dillon
POSTED: AUG 14 2017 10:45PM EDT
UPDATED: AUG 14 2017 11:45PM EDT
ATLANTA - There have been reports across the country of thieves using electronic devices to unlock keyless entry cars. An Atlanta man says that's how crooks stole his truck right out of his driveway.
Scott Lobel says it was about 4:30 in the morning when he heard the engine of his new Dodge Ram Rebel roar to life. "I popped up out of bed just in time to see the truck pull out of the driveway," said Lobel.
Lobel's home security cameras captured the crook in the act. He says he reviewed the video with police to find out how the thief got into the truck and was able to start it. "Both the officer and I reviewed the video and it certainly looked like he had a device in his left hand. The officer was certainly aware of decoding, that's for sure, it's something they've seen before," said Lobel.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau says there are a number of ways thieves use technology to get into keyless entry vehicles. One device can capture the signal from a key fob and clone it. Another can reprogram a new key in minutes. "Somebody with the right software and a key, can hook up to the diagnostic key and reprogram that vehicle's computer to accept a reprogrammed key that the bad guy supplies," said Frank Scafidi with the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Lobel says he hopes to get with investigators to learn more about what type of decoding device crooks used. He says in his case technology worked both for and against him. Unfortunately the crooks were up on their technology and were able to steal his truck. But Lobel had an APP that helped police track his truck and found it ditched along a road about 10 miles away.
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Thieves use device to break into cars electronically
by: Carl Willis Updated: Jun 24, 2017 - 11:23 PM
ATLANTA - Thieves could be using new technology to scan information from cars and break in without anyone knowing.
Residents in the Woodland Hills neighborhood in northwest Atlanta reported several car break-ins Wednesday. However, no windows or locks were damaged.
One victim said Atlanta police told her that thieves may be using some sort of device to scan vehicle information and mimic the keyless entry devices.
"It's just mind-blowing," Alexia Cargal said. She said thieves ransacked her husband's truck and stole a checkbook.
Cargal said three other cars around Rando Lane were also broken into.
"We really couldn't see any physical damage to the car," she said. "That was when the (officer's) response was 'you can electronically scan a vehicle identification number and break in.'"
The victim's husband and neighbors reported seeing a silver Chrysler sedan roaming the streets just before the thefts. One neighbor reported seeing the thieves in action.
Cargal said mystery devices, which have been reported across the country, may have reached the metro.
"I think what's scary is that now all cars are smart cars, essentially," she said. "So if they can break into your car with an app, like, what else can they do with your car?"
She wants everyone to be aware and know that these kinds of thefts could spread to other neighborhoods.
"You need to keep your car bare at this point, since it's so easy now to get into," she said.
The victims said the thieves tried to deposit a check into an account. The victims are hoping their bank and police work together to identify the thieves soon.
