I locked it ... Why was it stolen?

November 5, 19:27

A car that goes out of the parking lot at midnight.

This is a security camera image that captures the moment when a car is stolen.

"I have the key, but my car is gone."

Now, such incidents are occurring all over the country.

How was the car stolen?

"A special device" that holds the key to the incident was seized in Kansai for the first time in Japan.

(Kobe Broadcasting Station reporter Shunta Karaki)

Even though the key was properly locked ...

In July of this year, a luxury minivan was stolen from a used car dealer in Chiba prefecture.

The car on display in the parking lot was properly locked.

There is no evidence that the key was stolen.

So how was the car stolen?

The store's security cameras recorded the process of the series of crimes.

First, it's past midnight.

A person with a vinyl umbrella and a hood approaches the car.

This person opened the rucksack, took out something, and bent over near the bumper of the car to start doing something.

It takes about 5 minutes to move slowly.

Then suddenly the engine started.

And the car door will also open.

When this person got into the car, he ran away as it was.

The store reported the damage to the police, but since then there has been no report that the suspect has been arrested and the car has not returned.

A man from a used car dealer

"It's so easy to be stolen in such a short time. When I checked the video, I was shocked and couldn't speak."

"CAN Invader" that hijacks the "system" of a car

Why was the car stolen when the key wasn't stolen?

Today's cars are equipped with computers that start engines and unlock doors through the in-car network.

And, in fact, there is a terminal near the headlight of the car that connects to the network.

It is believed that the criminal was hijacking the "whole car system" by connecting some equipment to it and sending an illegal signal.

This technique is called "CAN Invader" because it breaks into the network of cars that communicate with a standard called "CAN signal".

Car theft by "CAN Invader" is now occurring all over the country.

However, the details of what kind of equipment was used at the time of the crime were unknown.

When you connect the seized goods to the car ... Surprising voices from the investigators

Under such circumstances, the Hyogo Prefectural Police seized the equipment used in the actual incident for the first time.

This February, a man from an Osaka office worker who was arrested and charged for trying to steal a car parked in a parking lot in Chiba Prefecture was in possession.

The seized equipment is palm-sized.

It looked a lot like a cell phone charger.

Police used this device for verification based on the man's explanation.

When I removed the bumper and connected the seized equipment to the terminal installed on the car body ...

the car started to move immediately.

Investigators who are familiar with theft methods also said that they were surprised

that the engine would start so easily

.

According to the police investigation, the man said, "I bought it from an acquaintance for about 2 million yen around February. I was able to shorten the time to steal."

According to the investigation so far, police estimate that the group of men has been stealing cars repeatedly for five years, and the total damage amounted to about 1 billion yen.

In particular, it seems that he had stolen only luxury cars since he got this device.

In recent years, the tendency for luxury cars to be targeted has increased.

According to the National Police Agency, the number of car theft cases has decreased in recent years.

Ten years ago, in 2011, there were about 25,000 cases nationwide, but last year it was 5,000 cases, which is one-fifth.

On the other hand, the amount of damage per stolen car was about 2.25 million yen last year, which is about 1 million yen higher than 10 years ago.

Statistics also support that luxury cars are particularly targeted these days.

Investigators say that high-performance Japanese cars tend to be targeted because they sell well when resold overseas.

Car innovation and theft tricks are cat-and-mouse

Along with technological innovation in automobiles, theft methods are emerging one after another.

Cars manufactured over a decade ago used keys with grooves in the metal.

The thief examined the shape of the keyway, made a duplicate key, and stole the car.

Therefore, instead of metal keys, "smart keys" were created to prevent theft.

It catches the weak radio waves transmitted from the car, unlocks it, and starts the engine.

There is no need to insert the key into the keyway.

Then, a method of stealing called "relay attack" came out.

The weak radio waves transmitted from the car are relayed using special equipment.

It is a method of unlocking a car parked in a distant place by reacting so that the radio wave reaches the smart key placed in the house.

There is also a method called "code grabber" that intercepts the radio waves of smart keys and duplicates the keys.

The only way to prevent this is to block radio waves.

For this reason, storage boxes for smart keys painted with aluminum are on sale.

To prevent "CAN invaders"

So how can you prevent the "CAN Invader"?

The secretary-general of an organization created by companies nationwide that sells car security devices says that a certain effect can be expected by taking "retrofitting" measures.

For CAN invaders that take over the entire car system, it is said that one of the countermeasures is to attach a security device that does not work with the car computer later.

For example, another system that sounds or stops the engine if the door is opened improperly.

It depends on the model, but the cost is 100,000 to 400,000 yen.

Creating an environment where the criminal is reluctant

Police also point out that it is important to make people think, "If you try to steal this car, it will stand out around you" and "If you try to steal this car, it will take time."

First, install sensor lights and alarms in the garage.

Then lock the garage.

Also, use steering wheel locks and tire locks for cars.

These locks are sold for around tens of thousands of yen.

Car theft, which often occurs during the hours from midnight to early morning, which is difficult to see.

It can be said that it is important to create an environment in which the criminal is reluctant even during such times.

To protect your valuable property from crime

"I found the example equipment. I was finally able to seize it," the

investigator said in early spring.

It is often hidden because it is an expensive commercial tool for criminal groups, and the police have never seen it before.

"CAN Invader" that allows you to easily steal a car even if it is locked.

As the investigation of the case progressed, it became clear that there were a large number of organizations such as executives, transporters, instructors, and dismantlers.

He also said that he had been stealing repeatedly after receiving an order about what kind of car he wanted, and it became clear that the criminal group was in a situation where he could choose a car.

The reality is that new technologies developed to evolve cars are being abused one after another.

In order to prevent your car from being damaged, it seems that it is most important to take double and triple measures that you can take.

Reporter of Kobe Broadcasting Station

Shunta Karaki

Joined the station in 2017. Since joining the station, he has been in charge of the Hyogo Prefectural Police.

I'm a paper driver and haven't had a car yet.

My longing is Porsche 911.