Auto theft on the rise... [Archive] - Colorado AR-15 Shooters Club Discussion Forums

Martinjmpr

10-13-2021, 10:43

Seems like every other day or so we see stories about auto theft becoming more and more of a problem in the Front Range area.

But what I'm wondering is - what are the thieves DOING with these stolen cars?

I mean, if someone steals a bicycle or wheelbarrow, they can just sell it to someone else on CL or FB marketplace or something like that.

But you can't sell a complete car to someone without some kind of ownership paperwork.

So are these stolen cars being chopped up and the parts sold off? Or are there people doctoring up titles or altering VINs to "legitimize" these cars?

Or are they being shipped out of the country to places where a stolen VIN wouldn't matter?

Just curious more than anything else.

BushMasterBoy

10-13-2021, 10:54

My theory is they go south of the border. I see these cars being towed by other cars. They are always headed south. Sometimes there are convoys of them. The go slow and it is usually at night. They use tow bars and magnetic lights.

Fentonite

10-13-2021, 10:58

BushMasterBoy

10-13-2021, 11:16

I can bet this one was stolen. Rammed a business in Pueblo West. So many cars around Pueblo with no tags. Reminds me of Juarez 3 years ago. Anybody been to Juarez lately?

https://www.kktv.com/2021/10/13/car-rammed-into-pueblo-west-business-authorities-ask-public-help-case/

Scanker19

10-13-2021, 11:55

Many are being used in the commission of other crimes. Most every porch pirate that been caught in my neighborhood had a getaway driver in a stolen car. Once they blow the motor or crash it, they abandon it and the owner gets it back, freshly stocked with used syringes and the like.

This. My truck was stolen a few years ago. Got it back with the bed and inside filled with stolen goods and a stack of IDs about 6 inches high.

BushMasterBoy

10-13-2021, 12:11

You have to have cars to move the drugs. Those addicted have to have cars to commit the crimes to get the drugs. I think this is big problem in Colorado. It is a 12 hour drive to the border. The illicit narcotics comes from the border, through Pueblo to the Springs. Then to the metro area. It is a billion dollar industry.

https://www.borderreport.com/regions/texas/testimony-sinaloa-cartel-operatives-moved-drugs-in-el-paso-parking-lots-and-safe-houses/

ray1970

10-13-2021, 12:34

You have to have cars to move the drugs.

Are you sure? Every time I watch one of those cartel movies they always talk about using mules.

clodhopper

10-13-2021, 12:46

The US is struggling with insufficient car manufacturing. You can be damned sure the rest of the world is experiencing the same problems if not worse. While some of the pressures listed above may be contributing to the problem, I have no doubt that a large number are disappearing across the south border or leave in "empty" shipping containers to other countries that dont track VINs.

buffalobo

10-13-2021, 13:18

Stolen cars and huge influx of illegal aliens. They go together like biscuits and gravy.

buffalobo

10-13-2021, 13:18

BMB is correct, many stolen cars go south of the border.

Bailey Guns

10-13-2021, 13:22

Are you sure? Every time I watch one of those cartel movies they always talk about using mules.

Is mule theft on the rise, too?

SouthPaw

10-13-2021, 13:42

My friends 2018 Sierra 1500 was recently stolen after the broncos game on 08/28/21. He reported it stolen and after two weeks, his insurance paid him out on it. On 09/18, he received a call from the police that his truck had been towed due to parking tickets. When he told them it was stolen, they released it to him. When he picked it up, the first parking ticket was issued on 08/31 and every day after until it was towed three days later. It was parked 1.2 miles away from where it was stolen. It led us to believe, they only had the truck for a day or two before they dumped it. The crazy part is, in those two days, they drove 2800 miles! When he got the truck home, we went over to find a few dents in the front bumper and slightly dented driveshaft which caused the whole truck to shake when going above 45mph. He had some personal items missing but everything else was there and the truck wasn't trashed. The ignition was all intact, nothing broken, no wires cut, just stunk like pot.

Somehow these guys drove the hell out of it for 1-2 days to rack of those miles up and not get caught with it. I still can't figure out how they stole it, especially since his ignition was all there and nothing was ripped apart. His original key still worked too. We thought maybe they drove it to the border but I can't imagine they were that stupid to take a truck cross country and then bring it all the back? I would also think that they would know that these new vehicles have OnStar or the like and that they could be tracked. Since he was already paid by the insurance, he took the money and let them haul it off. It was a total bummer for him because he had bought it from his friend who was the original owner and it had super low miles (26K).

BushMasterBoy

10-13-2021, 13:43

Irving

10-13-2021, 14:18

I just thought it strange all these small cars towing other small cars at night. Junk hauling junk. I was sure I was going to be told I was being delusional again. Next time I will save the video from the dash cam. Passing them on I-25 SB is annoying AF. They even have the balls to jockey with each other for the lead! I never thought they could be stolen. I never see them going North...

No need for videos, I see them heading South from the Springs all the time, and during the middle of the day. In fact, every time I had to the Springs I see a caravan of those vehicles. I always just assumed they were cars bought at auction, since they are clearly marked as such, heading South over the border.

00tec

10-13-2021, 14:29

I just thought it strange all these small cars towing other small cars at night. Junk hauling junk. I was sure I was going to be told I was being delusional again. Next time I will save the video from the dash cam. Passing them on I-25 SB is annoying AF. They even have the balls to jockey with each other for the lead! I never thought they could be stolen. I never see them going North...

The auction Toyotas? Those are a constant thing
See many of em on 287 south of Lamar.
Even seen school busses towing school busses

BushMasterBoy

10-13-2021, 14:44

Martinjmpr

10-13-2021, 14:45

I still can't figure out how they stole it, especially since his ignition was all there and nothing was ripped apart. His original key still worked too.

….Which leads me right to my next question. How is this happening? The days when you could just pop a steering wheel lock and drive off, or pull two wires under the dashboard and cross them over like McGyver, are long gone. All cars nowadays have those chip keys that supposedly won't even start if you have an exact duplicate of the metal key - you also have to have a matching chip code.

I have a 2018 F-150 XLT (which means it doesn't have the keyless ignition.) It does have a "chip key" and when I bought a new chip key and tried to "program" it myself (using the instructions in the manual) I couldn't do it. Come to find out, Ford disabled that feature in 2018 so now it has to be done by a dealer (who charged me $50 I think.) I assume most modern cars are like this now.

So how are these late-model cars being stolen?

I figure the cops are being cagey about this on purpose because they don't want others to figure out how it's happening, which kind of makes sense. Is there some way to "spoof" a key from a vehicle? Or just bypass the electronic locks?

BushMasterBoy

10-13-2021, 15:16

Surely not the key fob warm up feature? Does the ECM/PCM record how the car was started? Maybe bypass certain features using a laptop to the OBD? Car theft seems really prevalent in the Pueblo area.

Eric P

10-13-2021, 15:17

VINS, certain shady websites, NFC enabled phone. Used together you can easily steal these new cars.

00tec

10-13-2021, 15:26

….Which leads me right to my next question. How is this happening? The days when you could just pop a steering wheel lock and drive off, or pull two wires under the dashboard and cross them over like McGyver, are long gone. All cars nowadays have those chip keys that supposedly won't even start if you have an exact duplicate of the metal key - you also have to have a matching chip code.

I have a 2018 F-150 XLT (which means it doesn't have the keyless ignition.) It does have a "chip key" and when I bought a new chip key and tried to "program" it myself (using the instructions in the manual) I couldn't do it. Come to find out, Ford disabled that feature in 2018 so now it has to be done by a dealer (who charged me $50 I think.) I assume most modern cars are like this now.

So how are these late-model cars being stolen?

I figure the cops are being cagey about this on purpose because they don't want others to figure out how it's happening, which kind of makes sense. Is there some way to "spoof" a key from a vehicle? Or just bypass the electronic locks?

I could start your truck in about 15 minutes by programming a new key, not including cutting the key itself, but that doesn't really matter much.

Scanker19

10-13-2021, 15:29

My new security system is a 3 on the tree. Also I keep the tank at empty, have fun making it to the gas station.

Anyone have a gas can i can borrow?

FoxtArt

10-13-2021, 15:50

I read they claim the rate of recovery is exceptionally high, 8u% claimed in denver IIRC. Not sure if I believe it but some of them may be treating other's cars as short term rentals by the sound of it, and since consequences are nearly nil.

FoxtArt

10-13-2021, 15:51

Even though I don't live in those areas I am planning on using relays + and ardunio to make a theft interrupter. Since mine has some personal history I prefer not to get an insurance check.

.455_Hunter

10-13-2021, 16:03

My new security system is a 3 on the tree.

Any sort of a manual transmission is a theft deterrent.

ray1970

10-13-2021, 16:25

My new security system is a 3 on the tree. Also I keep the tank at empty, have fun making it to the gas station.

Anyone have a gas can i can borrow?

The three on the tree might keep them from driving away but they still might break in thinking it?s an automatic.

Four on the floor is the way to go. They?ll peek in and see it and move along.

BushMasterBoy

10-13-2021, 16:43

The .mils chain the brake pedal to the steering wheel. Seen a few Hummers like that & some CUCV's.

hollohas

10-13-2021, 16:58

More cars are being stolen because our law enforcement doesn't put much effort into catching the thieves. They don't have any motivation because even if they do, the thieves don't go to jail.

How many people have been arrested for stealing catalytic converters? I've read one story of someone being arrested. One. Zero effort being put into stopping it. None. Oh, the police will help you engrave your vin onto your cat, but they won't go after the scrap yards buying them.

Someone I work with had their company truck stolen recently. It had gps. They knew EXACTLY where it was, parked in a garage in Aurora. They told the Aurora PD and the PD said they couldn't do anything to help. A couple days later the gps went offline. Truck gone.

Irving

10-13-2021, 17:00

That's nothing new. My college roommate has his car stolen and found out it had lo-jack. The police recovered the car from a guys garage and did absolutely nothing. That was 20 years ago. Always trying to get a bigger bust.

00tec

10-13-2021, 17:47

The .mils chain the brake pedal to the steering wheel. Seen a few Hummers like that & some CUCV's.

If people are stealing new rides with RFID keys and such, a $4 masterlock ain't gonna accomplish much

BushMasterBoy

10-13-2021, 18:10

If people are stealing new rides with RFID keys and such, a $4 masterlock ain't gonna accomplish much

I forgot, wire the electric fence charger to it. Neon light transformer will work too. Unless you have a better idea?

00tec

10-13-2021, 18:56

I forgot, wire the electric fence charger to it. Neon light transformer will work too. Unless you have a better idea?

1" steel ball. Pneumatic gun. A couple hundred feet per second. Nutsack level

longrange2

10-13-2021, 19:31

A bunch of cars and trucks are also getting their catalytic converters stolen. It is rampant in Colorado.

Irving

10-13-2021, 20:19

Catalytic converter theft is rampant all over the country. Any time I travel my news feed switches to where ever I am and there are always stories about cat thefts.

brutal

10-13-2021, 20:28

I have no idea what they are. They drive dangerously. They seem to break down a lot. And they drive way below the legal limit on I-25. I never see them pulled over by CSP. Anybody else buy these cars at auctions?

https://leg.colorado.gov/content/state-speed-limits

They're auction cars. They're all junkers.

You think they steal junkers and tow them all the way across the border?

[ROFL1]

Great-Kazoo

10-13-2021, 21:16

Are you sure? Every time I watch one of those cartel movies they always talk about using mules.

Stu give you that one ?

brutal

10-13-2021, 22:45

Some cars are easier than others and make for better targets, particularly those looking for temporary transportation or valuables inside the car that may be easier to discover with time than the (lesser) time it takes to boost the car.

A friend's daughter's locked Hyundai was stolen and moved 2 lots over while she was in her apartment for just minutes.

She saw the car parked farther out in the lot and called 911. Quick enough response by the police and her call to Visa fraud that within minutes, while they were running charges at Walmart, the cops got tipped off. They sent patrol cars and SAW the guys walking out of Walmart, who turned back into the store when they saw the police and they never found them. They bought 4 x-box or PS5 or whatever the current console is that costs around $500 before the card got declined.

They punched the door lock and ignition and were able to start the car. Not sure if it disabled after out of range of the FOB or they were just after the stuff inside and moved it from a high traffic area.

Rucker61

10-14-2021, 08:16

The .mils chain the brake pedal to the steering wheel. Seen a few Hummers like that & some CUCV's.

I still have my CUCV key.

FoxtArt

10-14-2021, 10:00

Half tempted to delete my cat tbh and put it back when they eventually add emissions over here. Can't steal it if it's already gone. But, I prefer to have it if I can...

I have thought if you wired a circuit to a train horn that will trigger when cut, it would probably be pretty effective. Even if they aren't worried about arrest that would be painful to be RIGHT THERE. Hard to manage the temperatures but there has to be some kind of insulated wire that can touch exhaust, I'd think.

SouthPaw

10-14-2021, 10:23

….Which leads me right to my next question. How is this happening? The days when you could just pop a steering wheel lock and drive off, or pull two wires under the dashboard and cross them over like McGyver, are long gone. All cars nowadays have those chip keys that supposedly won't even start if you have an exact duplicate of the metal key - you also have to have a matching chip code.

I have a 2018 F-150 XLT (which means it doesn't have the keyless ignition.) It does have a "chip key" and when I bought a new chip key and tried to "program" it myself (using the instructions in the manual) I couldn't do it. Come to find out, Ford disabled that feature in 2018 so now it has to be done by a dealer (who charged me $50 I think.) I assume most modern cars are like this now.

So how are these late-model cars being stolen?

I figure the cops are being cagey about this on purpose because they don't want others to figure out how it's happening, which kind of makes sense. Is there some way to "spoof" a key from a vehicle? Or just bypass the electronic locks?

That's what we can't figure out. No damage to any of the locks or ignition and like I said, his original key/fob still works fine. I am still shocked that they were gambling he didn't pay for OnStar as they can pin point your location immediately. It's a mystery all the way around how they drove that many miles in that short of time or why they bothered even bringing it back. He let the insurance take it and ended buying a new truck so it kind of worked out for him in the end.