The latest vehicle theft techniques used by thieves

Have you ever taken a close look at Government statistics on vehicle theft?

If you have, you’ll have seen that the times they are a-changin’ with van security, at least when it comes to thieves who want to get their hands on your motors.

Take a look at this table:

As you can see, back in 1995, the criminal’s technique of choice was to try and force the lock of your vehicle — with 65% of thefts or attempted thefts carried out in this way.

These days, only a fifth of crimes are conducted like this. Instead, nearly half of vehicles are taken by thieves with keys — up from only 9% in 1995.

So what has happened with van security? Have we got more careless with our keys?

The answer is a firm ‘no’. Media coverage has made us much less likely to leave our keys in our vehicles, or within reach of thieves trying to hook them through our letterboxes.

What has happened is much more worrying — new technology allows thieves to break into a vehicle and drive it off when your back is turned for more than three or four minutes.

Let’s take a look at how they do it — and how you can stop them.

How Modern Thieves Steal LCVs

LCV theft is a major issue for fleet managers, especially now that modern techniques mean they can be stolen to order using readily available equipment. 

The two theft techniques that pose the biggest threat to your vehicles are:

• Easily available lock picks – which thieves use to enter the vehicle
• Specialist software – that allows them to start the engine and drive off.

Let’s take a look at them in more detail...

Lock Picks

In the old days, the only way you could easily get lock picks was if you were a locksmith, or you had a good network of criminal associates.

Today, that’s changed. All you have to do is get online, pay out £50 and you’ve got the tool you need to break into popular vans like the Ford Transit in less than a minute. Type ‘tibbie lock pick’ into a search engine to see how easy it is for criminals to access your van using these specialist tools.

Specialist Software — OBD Hackers

When it comes to van security, modern vehicles are computer controlled, and they have something called an OBD (on-board diagnostics) port that is normally used by auto mechanics to troubleshoot your engine and associated systems.

Unfortunately thieves can plug in their own laptop or PDA to your OBD port, which they then use to bypass your immobilisation system and create an electronic ‘key’ to start the engine.

Used together, lock picks and OBD hacking devices mean a thief can steal your vehicle to order from almost any location, quickly.

How To Foil The Thieves

Fortunately, there are relatively simple ways to prevent thieves using new technology to steal your LCVs.

First, you can install anti-pick locks. If these have been independently tested and endorsed by the Thatcham Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre or by Sold Secure, they will have been subjected to high intensity security testing — guaranteeing the highest levels of deterrence when it comes to van security.

Secondly, you can add OBD port protectors to your vehicles. These prevent criminals from plugging their devices into the port in the first place, stopping them from firing up the engine. Again, make sure these have been independently tested.

The only problem for fleet managers is cost. It gets expensive to install security devices to all your vehicles – especially if you also add devices like CAT Guards to protect your catalytic converters and spare wheels (see our blog post on this topic).

However, there is a solution. By leasing your vans, you can find a provider willing to add the security devices you need for a minimal extra monthly cost. That way security won’t eat into your capital – and you don’t run the risk of insurance hassles, down time and red tape as your LCVs fall prey to indiscriminate and technologically savvy thieves.