Theft Protection

[vikram soni]

I have heard that the most common way the VAG cars are stolen is by swapping the ECU with another one with immobilizer disabled.

In Seat Leon 5F, the location of ECU is easily accessible. And it can be swapped in 30 seconds by just removing the connector ( easier than changing the bulb ).

Has anyone of you put something to secure it ? Please suggest if anyone has any ideas or done something to protect access to ECU unit..

 

[Pew.]

I'd say the most common way today is cloning of keys, specifically those with keyless entry. Never heard of thief's swapping the ECUs out.....

It might be in a convenient location but to get to it the bonnet needs to be up, not a 30second job and if you break the lock to lift the bonnet you can't drive it with the bonnet flapping about.

 

[vikram soni]

I'd say the most common way today is cloning of keys, specifically those with keyless entry. Never heard of thief's swapping the ECUs out.....

It might be in a convenient location but to get to it the bonnet needs to be up, not a 30second job and if you break the lock to lift the bonnet you can't drive it with the bonnet flapping about.

Agreed, heard about the megamos chip flaw, thats why I decided not to get the keyless entry system in my car. Is there any additional precaution we can take to protect the cars from potential theft?

 

[Pew.]

Can always get a 3rd party upgraded alarm & mobiliser

Other than that don't leave your car keys near the front door, so many get snatched from near the door or cloned because they are left next to a window or something.

 

[Wings988]

The best you can do is make your house more secure. If they want the car and cannot clone a key they will try to take the key. A lot of houses are very easy to break into, much easier than breaking into the car itself. Look on YouTube about euro lock snapping to see how easy that is, yale locks are even easier. A tracker won't stop it being stolen but should help getting it back, if you want it back after they've abused it.... You can go down the mechanical defensive route, fit a wheel clamp and/or steering wheel lock. Otherwise it's down to keeping out of sight, garaged or behind locked gates but if you don't have this option then refer to previous.

 

[xyz]

Forget cloning and ecu swaps - most VAG cars are nicked by having keys stolen and in some cases, by a laptop reading the signal from a keyless fob and “boosting” it to the car - the laptop is literally held against a house wall and picks up the signal and beams it to the car. A few Mercs have been stolen like this. The best way to secure your car is to fit an Autowatch Ghost. The driver has to input a series of button pushes set by him/her to unlock the immobiliser. The system utilises the buttons on the steering wheel - so the driver might have to press cruise control button three times, volume button twice then menu button once. Costs about £400 fitted.


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[Deleted member 103408]

Autowatch Ghost is a very good product and people talk about it here https://forums.seatcupra.net/index.php?threads/cupra-300-st-stolen-this-morning.445400/ and on other stolen car threads.

I have to agree with wings988 the problem with these tools is they just get the pro's angry and they come in your house and wont ask nicely for the code. We did have a ghost salesman on here once and he admitted this happend and also the nasty so and so's just pick the car up and put it on a trailer if they want it. My personal view has always been a steering wheel lock will keep the kids off the car, the pro's if they want it will take it. Trackers again are helpful but at the end of the day if somebody has nicked my car the likelyhood is it will be damaged and I wont want it back again. But if you feel you need extra security then Ghost is a very good product.

 

[RADIOTWO]

The cheapest and a deterrent is a old fashioned steering lock !
I had one fitted so they took two cars off next doors drive

 

[xyz]

Autowatch Ghost is a very good product and people talk about it here https://forums.seatcupra.net/index.php?threads/cupra-300-st-stolen-this-morning.445400/ and on other stolen car threads.

I have to agree with wings988 the problem with these tools is they just get the pro's angry and they come in your house and wont ask nicely for the code. We did have a ghost salesman on here once and he admitted this happend and also the nasty so and so's just pick the car up and put it on a trailer if they want it. My personal view has always been a steering wheel lock will keep the kids off the car, the pro's if they want it will take it. Trackers again are helpful but at the end of the day if somebody has nicked my car the likelyhood is it will be damaged and I wont want it back again. But if you feel you need extra security then Ghost is a very good product.

Yup - I have a hoofing great Disklok on my Golf. There is some footage somewhere of some scumbags eyeing up an RS6 - then they see the Disklok and decide against it. As for the Ghost - if they don’t know it’s on there, they won’t be asking for the code. Secret to Ghost is not to advertise the fact it’s on the car.


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[Deleted member 103408]

@xyz agree but as they are nicking a premium car (probably to order) then when they turn the key and it don't start I wonder what there next move will be. These are only possessions and can be replaced your family could suffer physical harm along with mental trauma.

As i said earlier I agree the wheel lock is great because its visible and a clear deterrent to the scumbag low life. The steal to order people will know whats out there and will not be slow in asking you for the code.

but that's just my point of view

 

[xyz]

@xyz agree but as they are nicking a premium car (probably to order) then when they turn the key and it don't start I wonder what there next move will be. These are only possessions and can be replaced your family could suffer physical harm along with mental trauma.

As i said earlier I agree the wheel lock is great because its visible and a clear deterrent to the scumbag low life. The steal to order people will know whats out there and will not be slow in asking you for the code.

but that's just my point of view

Mercs and Audi’s maybe but a VW or SEAT isn’t normally stolen to order as they’re not premium cars. Most thieves don’t want to the hassle - in and out without faffing about for codes. It’s normally oiks that steal lesser cars. On top of that, you can get immobilisers where you press a button as they go off down the road and the engine cuts out.


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[vikram soni]

I hear reports of Cupras getting boosted often in Madrid. Probably because they are easy to sell in black market?
In case of street parking, I agree when they see a huge metal lock hanging on your steering, their best option is to choose the second best pick.

 

[Deleted member 103408]

Yes Italy is the car crime capital of Europe according to the guys i have seen on the OBD11 Forum. They are also after OBD2 Protection devices so that people cant hack into the cars systems.

 

[CupraDesireRed]

I was looking at getting a disklok before my cupra arrives. Does anyone know what size is required?

 

[Pew.]

Back seat crocodile, 100% effective 69% of the time

 

[Jimbobcook]

Back seat crocodile, 100% effective 69% of the time

Would an Alligator be ok? Does that change the % of success?

 

[Seriously?]

I always like cars that have a snappy response..........

 

[Jimbobcook]

I was thinking more this...

But in all seriousness if someone wants the car they will take it... You just slow them down.

Same thing I think with cameras on the house you just attract more people to you saying I have stuff worth nicking...

But I guess a steering lock doesn't hurt...