Car thefts - securing your F-Type

[MajorTom]

I happened to see this vid yesterday and thought it was quite interesting. Nothing unique to Jags and nothing new about relay attacks or OBDII port hacks but creating a new key just based on a VIN was new to me.

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9cZmJHOuK0[/media]

I never really go or park anywhere where there would be any particular risk of car theft but always use a faraday bag for the keys when traveling. At home the fobs are way too far away from the car for any relay attack. Apart from that it seems a bit silly to just leave gaping vulnerabilities like the VIN and OBDII port access when there are easy risk mitigating fixes.

I always thought it's a little odd that the VIN is displayed so clearly and this video gave me the idea to simply cover it from inside the windshield. Just need to find something suitable that is easy to remove if needed.

Another simple clever thing to slow thieves down in the unlikely event of attempted theft would be to install some kind of lock on the OBD port. Surprisingly enough there hardly seem to be any for sale. Does anyone know where to get such a lock?

 

[mickjaguar]

Another one in the series.

https://youtu.be/uHIwtiA963M?si=X91Zn8rVTELvGUbP

I have a OBD lock that I found on eBay some years ago for £10. It's a steel box with a long shackle padlock fed through the open end. This item is similar and I would think the bolts could be replaced with a padlock also.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186293875248?

 

[MajorTom]

This one looks decent as well.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156099533025

And then I saw this in the US which is no longer for sale and seemed to be rather bizarrely priced.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156099533025

Looks like I need to trawl ebay a bit more for some unobtrusive option.

 

[Cluck]

The ODB cable in the video looks like a nice way of securing that side of things, but in terms of key security, it was confirmed on here by the top alpha dog man himself that

The OBD port should only be vulnerable on cars older than 2015.
In 2015 JLR changed the system so that the OBD is taken out of the equation.
...the new system has a separate module that will only talk to the two original keys.
You can't clone any new ones.
If you lose one you will get stung for two new keys and a new module as others have found to their cost elsewhere.

Which sounds similar to the additional module being mentioned for the Porsche and Lambo segment.

I have done what I can, bar fitting an OBD lock, to stop the opportunist thief from taking my car but I am under no illusions that if somebody wants it, they'll take it.

This one looks decent as well.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156099533025

And then I saw this in the US which is no longer for sale and seemed to be rather bizarrely priced.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156099533025

Looks like I need to trawl ebay a bit more for some unobtrusive option.

The 2nd link is the same as the 1st!

To be honest, that one that is linked looks like it's 3D printed, so I doubt it's all that secure really

 

[MajorTom]

The ODB cable looks like a nice way of securing that side of things, but in terms of key security, it was confirmed on here by the top alpha dog man himself that

The OBD port should only be vulnerable on cars older than 2015.
In 2015 JLR changed the system so that the OBD is taken out of the equation.
...the new system has a separate module that will only talk to the two original keys.
You can't clone any new ones.
If you lose one you will get stung for two new keys and a new module as others have found to their cost elsewhere.

Which sounds similar to the additional module being mentioned for the Porsche and Lambo segment.

Interesting. Then it sounds like an additional key based on the VIN won't work with post 2015 cars either.

Wrong link posted earlier. It was supposed to be this one:
https://www.amazon.com/MITI-Protector-Anti-Theft-Locking-Device/dp/B09NDVY3PP?th=1

 

[Cluck]

Interesting. Then it sounds like an additional key based on the VIN won't work with post 2015 cars either.

I assume so, but then you know what they say about assumptions!

Wrong link posted earlier. It was supposed to be this one:
https://www.amazon.com/MITI-Protector-Anti-Theft-Locking-Device/dp/B09NDVY3PP?th=1

Yeah, that pricing is a bit whack. The same design is on Amazon UK for about £60, but the part that put me off buying one before was the fact it has to be screwed INTO the ODB port itself. Nope, not doing that.

Given that the goal is to block access to the pins, I think I'll get the measurements and make my own piece of bent metal and buy a couple of security screws for it instead of paying somebody else £30 for the same thing!

 

[WShudds]

I've watched both videos and thought to myself surely people won't steal a car that wakes up the whole estate in the middle of the night? But then I found some old posts here from 2021 where people had their F-types stolen so I bought this today

Turnart Steering Wheel Lock Seat Belt Lock Universal Fit Most Vehicles Sturdy Lock for Car Truck SUV Van Security with 3 Keys (Yellow) https://amzn.eu/d/1mMV8w3

And I'm considering buying this
BI OBD Protector Anti-Theft Immobiliser for OBD Socket Cover for OBD Interface https://amzn.eu/d/hnIysWG

The steering lock is of excellent quality, easy to put on and off in just a few seconds and fits the glove box nicely.

 

[pirateprentice]

I use a Stoplock as a visible deterrent.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stoplock-Pro-Elite-Steering-Anti-Theft/dp/B06XP21DK6/ref=sr_1_4

As Cluck says, there's no perfect solution, but the Stoplock makes my car look harder to steal.
The wildebeest doesn't have to out-run the lion, it only has to out-run one other wildebeest.

 

[MikeM]

Turnart Steering Wheel Lock Seat Belt Lock Universal Fit Most Vehicles Sturdy Lock for Car Truck SUV Van Security with 3 Keys (Yellow) https://amzn.eu/d/1mMV8w3
The steering lock is of excellent quality, easy to put on and off in just a few seconds and fits the glove box nicely.

Not expensive or cumbersome by the look of it, big difference from black to coloured version. Do you think it’s sturdy enough to not be easily ripped out of the seatbelt fixing? I think I may get one

 

[WShudds]

Turnart Steering Wheel Lock Seat Belt Lock Universal Fit Most Vehicles Sturdy Lock for Car Truck SUV Van Security with 3 Keys (Yellow) https://amzn.eu/d/1mMV8w3
The steering lock is of excellent quality, easy to put on and off in just a few seconds and fits the glove box nicely.

Not expensive or cumbersome by the look of it, big difference from black to coloured version. Do you think it’s sturdy enough to not be easily ripped out of the seatbelt fixing? I think I may get one

Yes, the price gap is silly as the only real difference is the sleeve colour. But I wanted it to stand out so...

It's definitely worth £35 IMO, very well made and won't come out without a key (you get 3 and could choose to hide one in the car just in case?) It's a convenient deterrent that would add time and effort to the most determined thief. As they say though, working for anything is the last thing a thief wants to do!

 

[davidls]

Why not just fit a Ghost II or Ghost Pro? Won’t be going anywhere unless on the back of a tow-truck.

 

[Billymcmred]

Why not just fit a Ghost II or Ghost Pro? Won’t be going anywhere unless on the back of a tow-truck.

Ghost ll fitted to mine only trouble I see is it locks gearbox so engine will start cuts out of code not input before putting in D / R had to be this way if I wanted remote start to work
As others have said if they really want the car they will take it somehow however I do like the idea of “visual” deterrent

 

[cj10jeeper]

Why not just fit a Ghost II or Ghost Pro? Won’t be going anywhere unless on the back of a tow-truck.

I think this has been well covered in previous threads and I for one am a strong supporter of them having had several fitted on my current and former cars.
Fully agree that with one installed the car needs moving on a trailer.

 

[CSGMART]

I use one of these on mine and whilst it would be possible for a determined thief to overcome it the more casual thief is likely to move on to another car in preference.

 

[Kev]

The wildebeest doesn't have to out-run the lion, it only has to out-run one other wildebeest

Were these wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain?

 

[pirateprentice]

Sydney Opera House.

 

[davidls]

Why not just fit a Ghost II or Ghost Pro? Won’t be going anywhere unless on the back of a tow-truck.

I think this has been well covered in previous threads and I for one am a strong supporter of them having had several fitted on my current and former cars.
Fully agree that with one installed the car needs moving on a trailer.

I can’t recall, did you have the little stickers displayed or, did you leave them off?

 

[cj10jeeper]

Why not just fit a Ghost II or Ghost Pro? Won’t be going anywhere unless on the back of a tow-truck.

I think this has been well covered in previous threads and I for one am a strong supporter of them having had several fitted on my current and former cars.
Fully agree that with one installed the car needs moving on a trailer.

I can’t recall, did you have the little stickers displayed or, did you leave them off?

No stickers - pointless telling them what to go hunting for. Just assume theft failed and move on

 

[davidls]

A very fair point.

 

[MajorTom]

Btw does anyone know where all those cars stolen in the UK usually go if they aren't sold in the UK?

I mean there aren't that many other parts of the world where people drive on the wrong side of the road and most of them are quite far away from the UK so shipping the cars to an RHD market must be a bit of a challenge. I guess there are remnants of the Soviet union and places in Africa where people don't care too much about if the steering wheel is on the wrong side and the speedo uses some odd units.