#BelleAffaire 🚨 Dismantling by #police from #ComCyberGend of an international criminal organization that facilitated car theft by hacking:
➡️ 53 thousand connections;
➡️ 2.7 million euros in damages;
➡️ 31 detentions;@Europol @Евроюст #YUNALKO pic.twitter.com/exFFFhUv2K

– National Gendarmerie (@Gendarmerie) October 15, 2022

Car theft has always existed, while parts are a lucrative market, especially with the rise of online sales. Which makes thieves want to go and take advantage of unattended vehicles, and some items can be worth a small amount. This is especially true of catalytic converters, which contain many rare metals and therefore have a very high cost. Hence the interest of thugs in this part, especially since on some models it is very easy to access. Then it is enough to cut the catalyst in a few minutes. This is then resold for gold.

CAN Invader bypasses a car’s security system and accesses everything, including locks and ignition, in minutes and without damaging the vehicle, making it difficult for the police.
A simple way to protect yourself from it is to use a steering wheel lock. pic.twitter.com/1fqUPc4V60

—⛩Ryo Saeba⛩ (@Ryo_Saeba_3) November 12, 2021

Two crooks

Indeed, this piece can cost between 100 and 150 euros. Good for thieves, and some are very organized. This is exactly the case of two brothers who were recently arrested for stealing 40 catalytic converters. And their modus operandi was well established. Indeed, the latter forced the homeless to help them by setting a goal of ten catalysts a day. The Toyota Prius were particularly targeted, due to the low emission that degrades the part and therefore the precious metals are scarce. Then it only took three minutes to commit the evil without the two brothers getting their hands dirty.

Prison term

Arrested in Lille, the latter had to answer for their actions before the court. The youngest, aged 18, got away with it without going into custody, still receiving a sentence of two years in prison, including 18 months with a probationary period. The rest is for an electronic bracelet. The oldest, 22, took three years, so his probation was suspended. Therefore, he will pass well through the prison cell. Two homeless people were fined, but will remain at large.

Thanks to electronic theft, or “mouse theft”, stealing a vehicle without breaking and entering has become child’s play for thieves. 👨‍💻🚗

Don’t forget to protect your car with Coyote Secure 👉 https://t.co/qPkxYGLvYq

Find the 2019 Flight Observatory 👉 https://t.co/2t3Be5yYOs pic.twitter.com/XxWldjG2WL

— Coyote_Officiel (@Coyote_Officiel) June 19, 2020