Sorry to hear your car got stolen. When it comes to electronic alarm systems the bad guys always have a solution to whatever manufacturers come up with. I wonder if manufacturers can incorporates Apple's face ID tracking technology to scan the face of the driver every 5 mins to keep the engine running would be a good deterrent for theft, or maybe reading the driver's finger print on the steering wheel.
2025 Stolen in Canada
- Thread starter Thew_Tang_Clan
- Start date
This.... I own a tesla and it records anytime someone gets near it on all sides. Funny what you see people do.
I always do the key fob trick to turn off the signal in public areas, garages, hotels, etc... and use a steering wheel lock if parking more than a few hours anywhere.
I just saw a video that takes car thieves 40 seconds to steal without your keys. They are using a stolen (by gunpoint) Autel device that legitimate key programming businesses use. It plugs into the ODB port and then they hold the new blank fob in front of the start button and it programs is seconds.
There are only 2 defenses... a ODB port lock or Immobilizer. I am going the ODB lock for now and still doing everything else I have been doing.
I just saw a video that takes car thieves 40 seconds to steal without your keys. They are using a stolen (by gunpoint) Autel device that legitimate key programming businesses use. It plugs into the ODB port and then they hold the new blank fob in front of the start button and it programs is seconds.
There are only 2 defenses... a ODB port lock or Immobilizer. I am going the ODB lock for now and still doing everything else I have been doing.
Been thinking about just wiring a hidden switch on the positive, ground and possibly comm lines on OBD port to prevent theft or even false wiring a dummy port in the OEM location.
I don't trust a port lock since you can just jumper into the back of the connector and continue on.
I don't trust a port lock since you can just jumper into the back of the connector and continue on.
If you have electric seats, maybe you can install a switch on the driver's seat motor(s) (hidden and accessible only with the driver door open) and have an obd lock. You would move seat all the way forward (ideally with memory button) then switch off the motors and lock the car. The theives are not opening the door to avoid alarm sounding, so if you block access to obd with the seat they wont be able to quickly connect to obd or defeat the obd lock. You could also lock a manual seat all the way forward using a club with the brake pedal. Thinking out loud.
Unfortunately if thieves have access to your OBDII port they can create a key with a scan tool. The new keys shut off after a few minutes of rest so that's why they started breaking windows again.
I live in the Toronto area and I've got Tag, a third party immobilizer, OBD II lock and a steering wheel lock but I still won't park my vehicle outside overnight. The steering wheel lock is mainly for show since it's easy to cut through the steering wheel but it's a visual deterrent when parking in public place.
This is the OBD lock I use, it's metal and it feels like the whole OBD port will come out before the lock gives out. Universal Tune Saver | bem-auto
I live in the Toronto area and I've got Tag, a third party immobilizer, OBD II lock and a steering wheel lock but I still won't park my vehicle outside overnight. The steering wheel lock is mainly for show since it's easy to cut through the steering wheel but it's a visual deterrent when parking in public place.
This is the OBD lock I use, it's metal and it feels like the whole OBD port will come out before the lock gives out. Universal Tune Saver | bem-auto
I feel like a dummy port is the best solution... move the real one up and out of the way, and run some fake wires up under the dash to the dummy port. They'll plug in, and when they get no signal/response.. they'll more than likely move along to the next target. Doubt they will spend time troubleshooting or looking for what's wrong.
- Moderator
- #29
Thieves are a lot smarter than that. If they have the know how to "add a key" they probably are smart enough to give the wires from the dummy OBDII port a good yank. You need a secondary electrical block/disable in the mix. I think I read on this forum where the thieves had the Toyota tracking disabled in less than 30 mins, when the police recovered his vehicle, the thieves had cut just about every cable/wire to the modules beneath the center console, but didn't do much damage to the console it's self.
My elements are effective and buried / camouflaged deep in the wire looms, I have doubts Dealer techs would locate them.
Agreed, to some degree. But.. when time is of the essence, I doubt they spend more than a minute trying to suss out the issue. 'Something is wrong with this vehicle, let's get to of here and find another one'
My guess? They have been shown 'How-To' DIY by someone a lot smarter than them with the coder, and what wires to cut etc. to disable tracking etc. Outside of that, I doubt they have any real knowledge about Landcruisers in particular.
- Moderator
- #31
They don't cut wires anymore......... just clone your key, drive away....... all completed in less the 1 min. Or Bust a window, don't unlock or open the door, gain access to your OBDII port, add a key, drive off......... in about 10 min
And... with not being able to open the door due to the alarm, how easy is it to access under the dash to go hunting for a missing/dummy/real OBDII port? Again.. not worth the effort on their part.
Well, certainly not doing you... not here to argue, but list out what's reasonable for folks to do and have a discussion. Can you do the anti-theft to a very highest level to make you sleep better at night? Sure. Can it still be defeated by some thieves out there. Yep.
I've had a car stolen before. It sucked. I was berated by the officer who took my report for not having an alarm system on a 15 year old Honda Civic hatchback with 250K on the clock. The car alarm would have cost more than the car.
Not saying the LC crowd should go without anti-theft measures by any stretch, and I truly do empathize with the OP having had a car stolen myself. Most folks here can do what's reasonable, but It would seem like the folks in Toronto/area need to do every measure they can as the issue is so prevalent. Good luck to the OP.
I've had a car stolen before. It sucked. I was berated by the officer who took my report for not having an alarm system on a 15 year old Honda Civic hatchback with 250K on the clock. The car alarm would have cost more than the car.
Not saying the LC crowd should go without anti-theft measures by any stretch, and I truly do empathize with the OP having had a car stolen myself. Most folks here can do what's reasonable, but It would seem like the folks in Toronto/area need to do every measure they can as the issue is so prevalent. Good luck to the OP.
- Moderator
- #35
You don't seem to have the skill set to do me.............
Seems like if you put a lock on the brake pedal in the up position it would keep it from starting even with a cloned key or whatever. It won't go out of accessory mode and start unless the brake pedal is pressed while pushing the start button... Most of the brake pedal locks on the market are not that great but it is probably the best answer if you could find one that seems difficult for a thief to beat.
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