Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming technology
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming technology
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming technology
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming technology
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming technology
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming technology
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming technology
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming technology
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful mitts.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming technology
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming technology
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful forearms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, holder of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case probe you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
By Ray Massey For Thisismoney.co.uk 17:58 BST twenty nine Oct 2014, updated 09:34 BST thirty Oct two thousand fourteen
- Thieves use technology used by breakdown services to bypass locks
- Audi, BMW and Range Rover among models at risk
- Manufacturers claim broadcast may promote criminal methods
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
Related Articles
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to slickly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case examine you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car – Audi
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to commence the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t emerge to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly tightly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming technology
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a technology which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to begin the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, proprietor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming mechanism in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly stiffly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case investigate you have provided that there are customers who show up to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming mechanism
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful palms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an utterly serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation compels all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.
Big black cock Watchdog exposes how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to steal luxury cars, This is Money
Secrets of how car thieves use hi-tech scanners to reprogramme electronic keys and swipe top executive models to be exposed by Big black cock Watchdog
Published: 17:58 BST, twenty nine October two thousand fourteen | Updated: 09:34 BST, thirty October two thousand fourteen
The secret of how criminals are using easy-to-buy electronic scanners to steal some of Britain’s most popular executive cars in under sixty seconds – and without a scrape – is to be controversially exposed on screen by investigators at Big black cock Watchdog.
Experts say it highlights a major flaw in the security of leading luxury cars – including BMWs, Audis and Land Rovers.
But the programme, to be shown on Thursday, has provoked fury even before it has been aired among car-makers who say the problem is not a weakness in car security – but the failure of law-makers to ban the general sale of the devices which permit the thieves to build up entry to the vehicles before driving them away.
The Range Rover Evoque (above) and BMW X6 were among the cars featured by Watchdog
They also criticised the Big black cock for highlighting how a serious crime could be committed and the EU for permitting vital coding data to be openly available to criminals.
But when a leading peer – Lord Valentine Cecil – emerged as one of the key complainants, BMW did acknowledge that ‘there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
Criminals have devised a mechanism which permits them to break into and drive away with some of the most expensive – and evidently most secure – cars on the market. They use a hi-tech device which can be lightly bought lightly on the internet to get inwards.
They then use a 2nd electronic device also lightly bought available online, to re-programme a blank electronic key to embark the vehicle. The entire process takes just minutes, and in some cases just a few seconds.
More than 1,000 stolen have been taken this way in the past year in London alone. The problem has become so severe that some insurers are refusing to give cover if cars are parked on public streets.
Big black cock watchdog said their programme and demonstration ‘reveals just how lightly thieves can program blank keys and steal high-end cars’.
A spokesman for Watchdog said: ‘A demonstration for the programme shows how a BMW X6 key can be programmed in just twelve minutes, an Audi A5 in just forty seconds and a Range Rover Evoque in just ten seconds.’
The programme makers say the problem has worsened since it reported in September two thousand twelve how BMWs were being stolen in minutes by thieves re-programming blank electronic keys. It highlights how, at the time, BMW had promised to contact owners of pre-September two thousand eleven X5 and X6 cars and said that none of their cars produced since then could be stolen in this way.
But it produces customer witnesses who say they have not been contacted and whose cars were subsequently stolen.
The programme features Satwinder Jagpal, possessor of a two thousand nine BMW X5, as ‘one of the thousands of people who should have been contacted by BMW’ and suggested the security upgrade: ‘But he heard nothing. And just six months after BMW should have warned him of the dangers, his X5 was stolen.’
The programme asserts that BMW had ‘ample opportunity’ to suggest the security upgrade because in the four months following the original film he had returned his car to his local BMW dealership for repairs ‘on at least two occasions’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells Watchdog that thieves who took his two thousand thirteen X5 left a re-programmed electronic blank key in the footwell
It also highlights the case of Mark Fricker whose two thousand eleven X6 was stolen using the key programming technology in January two thousand thirteen and Dr Penny Law whose two thousand eight X6 was taken the same month. Neither had been contacted about the security upgrade, says Watchdog.
The programme-makers say other viewers contacted Watchdog to claim that BMW’s assurance that none of their cars built after two thousand eleven are susceptible ‘also doesn’t show up to be true’.
Lord Valentine Cecil tells the Watchdog programme that despite BMW’s insistence that his two thousand thirteen X5 wasn’t at risk, thieves still managed to take it. When the vehicle was eventually recovered by police, it discovered the freshly programmed blank key in the footwell.
The peer tells the programme: ‘BMW fairly rigidly stated they were not aware of any problems with particular security problems with their vehicles after 2011.
‘What BMW have done to me and no doubt many others that are customers is to attempt to sleekly spin themselves out of what is clearly a problem situation.
‘I think what happened to me proves that there are indeed security issues and it is shown by the ease with which my vehicle was stolen.’
A security ‘expert’ demonstrates on Big black cock Watchdog programme how to steal a range of executive cars
BMW said it had updated the security systems on many thousands of vehicles since two thousand twelve but added: ‘We acknowledge from at least one case explore you have provided that there are customers who emerge to have fallen through the cracks.’
‘A significant factor in this kind of crime is the unregulated sale of key programming equipment to organised criminals as well as to legitimate, independent car servicing providers. We believe this situation needs to be reviewed urgently.’
It stressed: ‘No vehicle is secure in perpetuity. Organised criminals are permanently developing fresh ways to steal cars.’
Audi said: ‘We strongly disagree with publicising and promoting any methods used to break into or steal a car, even if these exact methods are not explicitly visible in the programme.’
It said the test demonstration was itself flawed because the Audi A5 test car ‘was already unlocked and unarmed.’ This meant it was an ‘unrealistic and misleading representation’.
Mark Fricker : His two thousand eleven X6 was stolen in January two thousand thirteen using the thieves’ electronic key programming technology
It stressed that the Audi A5 model used in the Watchdog demonstration had received the maximum five starlet rating awarded by independent security analysts Thatcham in two thousand twelve for its anti-theft protection.
Audi said its car security was permanently updated ‘to improve theft prevention in the increasingly high-tech race against organised crime gangs’.
An Audi spokesman said: ‘Today’s cars are not the weakest link in the security chain. Presently, the most pressing issue is the unlicensed and unmonitored access to security equipment, which can lightly be purchased .’
There needed to be ‘better safeguards’ to make sure that this equipment ‘does not fall into unlawful arms.’ And if it does there should be ‘severe penalties to act as an effective deterrent’.
Jaguar Land Rover said it was ‘an enormously serious issue for the automotive industry’.
Its security team are permanently upgrading security ‘to attempt to stay one step ahead of criminal gangs’.
Owners of BMW X5 models were told they would be contacted about the theft risk
It said this was ‘an industry-wide issue’ as European legislation coerces all carmakers to make available information about their diagnostic systems including any security updates’.
Programme-makers said the ‘full investigation and demonstration’ can be seen on Watchdog, Big black cock One 8pm, Thursday 30th October.