Thieves use key switcheroo to steal Panamera
10-04-11, 06:12 PM
#1
Thieves use key switcheroo to steal Panamera
http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/10/01/...steal-porsche/
Pretty good idea I have to say 
The cast of Gone in 60 Seconds would be proud. No forced entry, no threats; just a devious plan that netted two thieves a $148,000 Porsche.
As the story goes, two men in their 20s showed up to Princeton Porsche in Lawrence, N.J. Monday to test-drive the Porsche Panamera. They claimed one had just won a nice chunk of change in a legal settlement and was looking for a new set of wheels.
After the spin around central New Jersey, the men took off. And the next day, so did the Panamera they had driven earlier. Police think that the thieves handed the dealer a fake key after the test drive. “It looks like they may have done a switcheroo on the keys of the car,” Lawrence Police Lt. Charles Edgar said.
The dealer, who accompanied the men during the test drive, noticed the car was missing upon opening shop the next morning. How could this have happened to such an expensive car with such a (presumably) expensive security system? Simple: the car features a keyless ignition system, with no physical key. An electronic key sits in the driver's pocket allowing one-touch access to opening the doors and turning the car on. Sounds like a fast pass for a simple switcheroo for these techy thieves.
As the story goes, two men in their 20s showed up to Princeton Porsche in Lawrence, N.J. Monday to test-drive the Porsche Panamera. They claimed one had just won a nice chunk of change in a legal settlement and was looking for a new set of wheels.
After the spin around central New Jersey, the men took off. And the next day, so did the Panamera they had driven earlier. Police think that the thieves handed the dealer a fake key after the test drive. “It looks like they may have done a switcheroo on the keys of the car,” Lawrence Police Lt. Charles Edgar said.
The dealer, who accompanied the men during the test drive, noticed the car was missing upon opening shop the next morning. How could this have happened to such an expensive car with such a (presumably) expensive security system? Simple: the car features a keyless ignition system, with no physical key. An electronic key sits in the driver's pocket allowing one-touch access to opening the doors and turning the car on. Sounds like a fast pass for a simple switcheroo for these techy thieves.
10-05-11, 03:48 AM
#7
A friend who has a V8 M3 showed me her keyless entry/ignition system. Impressive technology but I said to her that I'd be hard pressed to trust not using a physical immobilizer key to operate my car all the time. Now I have a very good reason to be skeptical of its security.
Granted, this was social engineering at its best.
Granted, this was social engineering at its best.
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10-05-11, 04:13 AM
#8
Recovering Lexus Addict
The explanation doesn't quite smell right to me. With the keyless system, the sales person can leave the fob in their own pocket as they ride along on the test drive. There's nothing exclusive about them anymore. Heck, my base level Prius has it - albeit only on the driver's door and ignition. There have been internet rumors of sniffing/spoofing these keyless systems since they were introduced. I wonder if that's what this was.
10-05-11, 08:34 AM
#10
+1
I know around here if the dealer doesn't know you the first thing they do is make a copy of your Driver's License before the test drive and leave it with the sales manager. Regardless I agree the final outcome should be very interesting.
I know around here if the dealer doesn't know you the first thing they do is make a copy of your Driver's License before the test drive and leave it with the sales manager. Regardless I agree the final outcome should be very interesting.
10-05-11, 09:34 AM
#15
The explanation doesn't quite smell right to me. With the keyless system, the sales person can leave the fob in their own pocket as they ride along on the test drive. There's nothing exclusive about them anymore. Heck, my base level Prius has it - albeit only on the driver's door and ignition. There have been internet rumors of sniffing/spoofing these keyless systems since they were introduced. I wonder if that's what this was.