The site "Ugona.net" has compiled a list of the most popular cars among car thieves in Russia. As in the previous year, popular cars are in the lead in the number of stolen cars, which can then be easily resold "by hand".
So if you are a happy owner of a LADA, Toyota or Hyundai car, be on the lookout. Your chances of being hurt by crime are higher than those of other car owners. And the worst is for the owners of "Lada" - the best selling brand with manual transmission in Russia... According to the traffic police statistics, which the rating compilers were guided by, this is the most stolen domestic car. The models of this brand account for almost a third (5,655 cases) of all cars stolen in 2018. Criminals especially like LADA 2107 and "sixes".
Top 10 most stolen foreign cars in Russia
10. Renault Duster - 222 thefts.
9. Mazda CX-5 - 238 thefts.
8. Toyota Land Cruiser 200 - 244 thefts.
7. Renault Logan - 282 thefts.
6. Toyota Corolla - 300 thefts
5. Toyota RAV4 - 317 thefts.
4. Ford Focus - 463 thefts.
3. Toyota Camry (one of most economical cars) - 695 thefts.
2. Kia Rio - 976 thefts.
1. Hyundai Solaris - 1265 thefts.
The owners of LADA Xray feel most at ease - over the past year, only 13 episodes of theft of a car of this brand have been registered.
Cars by the specific gravity of thefts (the number of cases per 1000 cars of this brand)
9. Samara 13 - 0.6 thefts.
8. Priora - 0.6 thefts.
7. VAZ-2103 - 0.6 thefts.
6. SUV Lexus LX - 3.3 thefts.
5. Cadillac Escalade - 4.1 thefts.
4. Lexus ES - 4.1 thefts.
3. Genesis G80 - 4.7 thefts.
2. Nissan GT-R - 6.2 thefts.
1. Volga-21 - 12.5 hijackings.
Complete model statistics
The main methods used by hijackers and how to counter them
There are many ways to steal a car - from the traditional connection of two wires to a sophisticated cyber attack.
Mechanical
The easiest way is when a burglar manually opens the lock with a master key or a special screw, or, using a pneumatic cushion, pushes a door or hood. And, yes, yes, like in old films, it connects two wires.
How to counter this: equip your iron horse with a modern security device.
Alarm "malfunction"
But if the alarm is on and it is impossible to neutralize it, the hijackers can use a different tactic - in various ways to provoke the security system to trigger. This usually happens at night, the neighbors are outraged, and the annoyed owner turns off the alarm. The result is predictable.
How to counter this: equip the car with a more advanced security system, with the ability to alert, disable the signal and block and / or immobilizer.
Human factor
Thieves bribe parking guards or negotiate with a dealer / service worker to do the manipulation they need. For example, they turned a blind eye to the penetration of strangers into the territory or used a device to intercept the signal from the key fob.Some also bribe the drivers of tow trucks so that they pick up the car the hijackers need and take it to a quiet place where it will be deprived of all security systems.
How to counter this: alas, practically nothing. All that remains is to equip the vehicle with a tracking device to make it easier to find in the future. And when buying a car, be sure to reprogram all key fobs.
Signal relay
As a rule, keyless entry is arranged quite simply - the key fob emits a radio signal, "understandable" to the car, with a short range, literally a meter or two. When the corresponding vehicle is at this distance, the car's receiver recognizes the signal, the doors are unlocked, and the car starts.
The hijackers using the retransmission method use wireless transmitters to read and transmit the signal from the key fob to the receiver in the hands of an accomplice who is near the car. And as soon as it is inside the car, the operation can be repeated to start the engine; keyless systems require the key fob to be inside when starting the car.
True, for this a thief needs to come close enough to the source of the "correct" signal - either to the front door, or to the window, or stand not far from the owner in public places. An accomplice can be as far away as you like (up to a distance of one kilometer).
How to counter this: many car owners buy special containers for such key fobs that completely block the signal. Also, some keys can be turned off.
Signal suppression
For this, a special device is used that suppresses the waves emitted by the key fob when the owner tries to block the engine and close the car doors. The gadget can be either in the hijacker's pocket or hiding in the bushes next to a parking lot or road.
When the owner presses the lock button on the key fob, nothing happens due to interference, the doors are not blocked, and intruders get inside without any problems.
How to avoid this: always, when you leave the car, watch whether the indicator flashes, whether the sound of a lockable lock sounds. If not, something is wrong.
Prescribing a new signal through the diagnostic connector
Every car produced in the previous decade has a diagnostic connector; as a rule, it is located in the area of the steering column, usually slightly lower.
Computer hackers have developed a device that plugs into this port, downloads software, writes a new signal, and emulates a key fob nearby. It takes nothing at all - 14 seconds. And the cost of such a device on the Internet is $ 15.
How to counter this: the good old lock on the steering column and an additional blocking of the diagnostic connector will help.
Finding the owner next to the car
If the owner is in no hurry to move away from the car, then thieves can discreetly check the door handles to see if they open. And then it is already a matter of technology - either hack the car through the diagnostic connector, or ruffle the owner's nerves, taking everything valuable out of it.
By the way, even if the motorist manages to avoid the attention of intruders, there are high chances of getting a discharged battery upon returning. Keeping the key nearby keeps the electronic systems on standby (and power consumption).
How to counter this: use a special device that monitors the actions performed by the machine and, in the event of something non-standard, informs the owner about it. And if the car was stolen, it will be easier to find it.
Interception of code
In theory, when the owner locks the doors, the signal coming from the key fob can be read by a special device. It decodes and emulates this signal, allowing the hijacker to get into the car, start it and drive away into shining distances.
However, now this method is practically not used due to the high complexity of encryption of the signal emitted by the key fob.
Hacking a computer application
The more owners use a smartphone app to unlock their car, the more popular this method becomes. A virus is launched into the owner's smartphone, which presents the application password to the thieves on a silver platter. And putting the same on your smartphone, logging in and opening the car doors is a simple matter.
How to counter this: comply with computer safety rules and regularly install updates to the vehicle software.
Let's end on an optimistic note: there were 21,112 car thefts in 2018, one-fifth less than in 2017. Does this mean that finally the security systems of cars are becoming so reliable that even the most advanced auto-makers are unable to resist them? Or is it just that a sluggish crisis is affecting the purchasing power of the population, as there are fewer cars and it is more difficult to sell them? This is left to the reader to decide.