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A Dutch first: Ingenious BMW theft attempt

mrooding.me

31–40 of 325 posts

Re: A Dutch first: Ingenious BMW theft attempt

#31
post #27

Reading this article is honestly a bit of a domestic culture shock for me, where does this guy live in The Netherlands? Here in downtown Amsterdam we called the police because the rear window of someone's car had just been smashed outside our office, and the police's response was "Has anyone been hurt? Nope? Then we're not coming". Meanwhile, wherever this guy lives they're sending officers because some BMW call cent…

>because some BMW call center calls the police in the middle of the night telling them that some car reported unspecified distress within some radius

Isn't that much more severe than "window smashed"?

It's "Burglary in process, or someone might be dying, and you haven't received a 112 so no ambulance is on the way."

Re: A Dutch first: Ingenious BMW theft attempt

#32
post #27

Reading this article is honestly a bit of a domestic culture shock for me, where does this guy live in The Netherlands? Here in downtown Amsterdam we called the police because the rear window of someone's car had just been smashed outside our office, and the police's response was "Has anyone been hurt? Nope? Then we're not coming". Meanwhile, wherever this guy lives they're sending officers because some BMW call cent…

[deleted]

Re: A Dutch first: Ingenious BMW theft attempt

#33
post #16

I've anecdotally heard a lot of stories about the relay/replay attacks on keyless ignition systems used in many BMW models and other cars as well. No need to smash the window at all in some cases. Remarkably simple attack in principle, and probably a nightmare to explain to your insurer given there will be no evidence of a break in. Makes you wonder if you should start storing the key in a metal/RF shielded box at ho…

This has happened so many times (I've heard of at least 5) in the UK to Tesla cars that Tesla themselves sent out a warning with instructions on how to turn off the passive entry feature that allows this attack. https://pasteboard.co/HypzOWg.png Here's a video of a relay theft (of a Merc) from West Midlands police in the UK... https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/news/4544/watch-police-r... Photo from a camera of atte…

Maybe you could stop this attack by having an IMU in the key so it only broadcasts the unlock signal while it's being held/moved.

Re: A Dutch first: Ingenious BMW theft attempt

#34
post #27

Reading this article is honestly a bit of a domestic culture shock for me, where does this guy live in The Netherlands? Here in downtown Amsterdam we called the police because the rear window of someone's car had just been smashed outside our office, and the police's response was "Has anyone been hurt? Nope? Then we're not coming". Meanwhile, wherever this guy lives they're sending officers because some BMW call cent…

You sound frustrated, like you think it’s a bad thing that the police has time to respond to these types of incidents. When you’re not in one of the big cities, it is in fact common that police has time for this type of stuff (I live in Zeist myself and could see this type of thing happening here).

I think this is rather a signal that the police in Amsterdam is underfunded, and/or the types of crimes they deal with are much more severe.

Also keep in mind that it’s not a “search a whole neighborhood” situation, they got the exact GPS coordinates.

Re: A Dutch first: Ingenious BMW theft attempt

#37

I think the proper cause of action in that case was to return the car and do an old fashioned stake out with lots of beer.. I mean redbull and catch the burglars redhanded.

yes. I honestly don't know why this was not done. It sounds like the most obvious thing to do if you know that the burglars are going to come back anyways the next day.

Re: A Dutch first: Ingenious BMW theft attempt

#38
post #18

BMW burglars appear to be very skilled. The entire board computer was taking from a friend’s car and the screws and cables etc were all tidily set aside as if it was a professional replacement. And this within an hour, on the front porch..

Makes me wonder how many of the thieves of modern cars are professionally trained service people from the respective car companies who are paid off to get the vehicle into a state where it can be cleanly taken away.

You are basically just paid to bypass security.

Re: A Dutch first: Ingenious BMW theft attempt

#39
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This has happened so many times (I've heard of at least 5) in the UK to Tesla cars that Tesla themselves sent out a warning with instructions on how to turn off the passive entry feature that allows this attack. https://pasteboard.co/HypzOWg.png Here's a video of a relay theft (of a Merc) from West Midlands police in the UK... https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/news/4544/watch-police-r... Photo from a camera of atte…

Maybe you could stop this attack by having an IMU in the key so it only broadcasts the unlock signal while it's being held/moved.

Many suggestions for foiling this (including some interesting Tesla specific ones, like having the screen ask for a PIN), but the simplest is to just have the key not unlock the car unless a button is pressed.

Not a massive inconvenience.

Re: A Dutch first: Ingenious BMW theft attempt

#40
post #18

BMW burglars appear to be very skilled. The entire board computer was taking from a friend’s car and the screws and cables etc were all tidily set aside as if it was a professional replacement. And this within an hour, on the front porch..

Well, I assume that the burglar was paid, de facto making it a professional replacement.
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