Looking at crime reports, it becomes clear that vehicle theft is a concern in Alberta. According to the RCMP, in 2023, there were over 8,710 reported cases of stolen vehicles in the province. This is a concern for our community, as we are at risk of losing our personal property, which poses a safety threat.
What makes it more concerning is how technology is changing how criminals steal vehicles. Thieves have found a way to hack into electronic systems, bypass security measures and gain entry to trucks and cars. Even if we keep our vehicles locked, we are not entirely safe from theft.
Alberta Provincial Rural Crime Watch is sharing information on these new vehicle theft tactics and how you can prevent them.
Your vehicle’s key fob constantly emits a proximity signal. Criminals can easily access portable technology to copy that fob signal and transmit a duplicated signal to unlock your vehicle. This technique is referred to as a relay attack.
Once inside your unlocked vehicle, depending on its make and model, they may be able to start the vehicle and drive away.
Another new tactic is called reprogramming theft. In this case, the criminals break into the vehicle and plug into the onboard diagnostic port, which every car is legally mandated to have and is located underneath the steering wheel. It monitors emissions, mileage, speed and other data about your car and allows a mechanic to check for any problems. Many of us may not be aware that our vehicles have diagnostic ports, but thieves do.
Criminals plug into that same port and download a digital key. They can then use that key to start the vehicle and steal it.
Criminals can attempt to access your vehicle's Controller Area Network through its smart headlamp wiring in a "CAN bus" or "CAN injection" attack. This type of attack involves manipulating the car or truck's communication network by spoofing and introducing counterfeit messages to trick the security system into unlocking the vehicle. This tactic can pose a significant security risk to newer vehicles.
A thief can obtain personal information through various means, such as online data breaches or social engineering tactics. Armed with this information, they can forge documents and assume your identity.
They can request duplicate keys from manufacturers or dealerships using your personal information, including address and vehicle details. They are granted easy access to your vehicle without triggering alarms or suspicion.
So, what happens to your vehicle after it is stolen?
80% of stolen vehicles in Alberta are recovered, so most of these trucks and cars are likely used to commit other crimes.
However, those vehicles that are not recovered are being sold off, whether in parts or as a whole. Criminals are stealing vehicles and stripping them to sell the parts. Tires, hubcaps, and wheels are the most common parts stripped from vehicles and resold. Criminals can also take tailgates, batteries, catalytic converters, and airbags from your stolen vehicle.
Your vehicle can also be resold in less savoury markets or to unsuspecting second-hand vehicle buyers.
You should also remember that criminals are not just breaking into your car or truck to steal the vehicle but also looking to take its contents. They can steal personal information such as your insurance and registration papers.
Thieves can create counterfeit registration papers or title documents using stolen identity details. This allows them to sell stolen vehicles more convincingly or bypass security checks during vehicle transfers.
Even though vehicle theft tactics are advancing, prevention methods are keeping up. There are ways to keep your property safe from diagnostic port thefts, relay attacks and other tactics.
You can also use anti-theft devices like GPS trackers and immobilizer systems.
Before you report a theft, ensure that your vehicle has actually been stolen. Sometimes, we forget that we parked our vehicles in a different location or agreed to have someone borrow our car or truck. There is also a chance that your vehicle was towed.
Once you have confirmed that your vehicle was stolen, you should first contact your local police detachment’s non-emergency line to start the process of filing a report. Criminals move very fast to strip your vehicle of parts or sell it off. Making a report quickly is important as it increases the chances of recovering your vehicle and minimizing potential damages.
After contacting the police, you should contact your insurance company and confirm that you are covered for vehicle theft under your policy. To file a claim, you will likely need to provide your insurance company with the same information you provided the police.
After following these steps, hopefully, your vehicle will be returned to you in the best condition possible.
As criminals develop new technologies and tactics to steal vehicles, vehicle owners must stay informed and use prevention methods to stop thieves. From relay attacks to reprogramming theft and CAN injection attacks, we have to be aware of the techniques used by modern thieves.
Together, we can prevent vehicle theft and ensure the safety and security of our vehicles and belongings.
To prevent a relay attack:
To prevent a diagnostic port theft: