Police investigating ring of brazen thieves that has nabbed 34 luxury vehicles, including three Lexuses from one family!
Despite an overall decrease in car thefts, a determined criminal is still very difficult to thwart. While vehicle theft in Canadaand the United States has declined over the decades due to more sophisticated anti-theft technology, the fact remains that if someone is set on stealing a car, they most likely will. The recent uptick in vehicle crime comes from devices criminal are now using that take advantage of the radio frequencies used in key fobs. A professional car theft crew in Canada proves this fact and has been targeting and lifting luxury vehicles in Ottawa, Canada. And they are making it look easy. Gail and Phil Downey, a Lexus-owning couple in Ottawa, can attest to this fact, several times over.
According to CTV Ottawa, the Downey family has been targeted by such a crew, twice and have had three Lexuses stolen since June! In the latest brazen theft, two cars were snatched. The couple had a 2016 Lexus, as well as a brand new 2018 Lexus, which was actually a replacement for their first Lexus, stolen from their driveway in mid-June. The same weekend also saw another Lexus stolen from their neighbor, Ottawa realtor, Marnie Bennett.
Gail Downey couldn’t believe their luck then she discovered the most recent theft. “I asked my husband to look [in the driveway] and he said both the cars are missing,” Downey told CTV Ottawa.
The thieves most likely used a sophisticated hi-tech method called “relay box.” Keyless entry requires that the key fob communicates with the car as you get close, so it’s regularly sending out a signal. The relay box searches for that signal, grabs it, and transmits it to a second device held near the vehicle. That second device uses the signal to unlock the door and turn off the immobilizer so the car can be driven away. The entire theft can take less than one minute.
Lexuses are Mega-popular in Ottawa, Especially with Thieves! continued…
Ian's obsession with cars started young and has left him stranded miles off-road in Land Rovers, being lost far from home in hot hatches, going sideways in rallycross cars, being propelled forward in supercars and, more sensibly, standing in fields staring at classic cars. His first job was as a mechanic, then he trained as a driving instructor before going into media production.
The automotive itch never left though, and he realized writing about cars is his true calling. However, that doesn’t stop Wright from also hosting the Both Hand Drive podcast.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
