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High-Tech Car Thieves Strike in Under a Minute
22 Apr
Summary
- Sophisticated ring steals cars in less than a minute.
- Electronic device reprograms vehicle computers for theft.
- Stolen cars are shipped overseas, primarily to Africa.
Federal authorities have indicted an international car theft ring that utilized advanced technology to steal vehicles in under a minute. This sophisticated operation bypassed traditional security measures by employing a device called an Autel to reprogram a car's internal computer, enabling thieves to program blank key fobs without breaking windows or hot-wiring. The indictment, announced by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, details 15 counts against the alleged perpetrators.
The ring operated in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Pennsylvania, targeting a variety of vehicles from Corvettes to Honda Civics. Once stolen, the vehicles' tracking systems were disabled, license plates were swapped, and the cars were hidden within containers labeled as furniture. These stolen vehicles were then transported to ports in Savannah, Georgia, and Baltimore, Maryland, before being shipped overseas, primarily to Africa, where they were sold for high profits.
Investigators have identified over 20 stolen vehicles valued at nearly $1 million, with estimates suggesting the operation may be linked to over 100 thefts in D.C. and more than 30 in Prince George's County, Maryland, totaling close to $4 million. Five men have been charged so far with conspiracy and transport of stolen vehicles, among other offenses. Authorities are urging the public to take preventative measures, such as using Faraday bags for key fobs and steering wheel locks, to combat this new wave of tech-enabled car theft.
