Vehicle theft has taken a high-tech turn in West Valley, where residents are reeling from a spate of robberies involving sophisticated gadgetry to commandeer cars. Michael Florant, a local of the area, experienced this firsthand when his 2022 Chevy Silverado was stolen from his driveway, an event chillingly captured by his Ring camera. One thief, armed with what seemed to be an AK-47, stood guard while his accomplice used a tablet to unlock and start the vehicle without a key, as 12 News reported.
According to the security footage seen by Florant the suspect with a tablet managed to sit in the passenger seat and start his car within a matter of moments, Florant, in his disbelief, shared the troubling experience, "I was mad," which according to FOX 10 Phoenix, showcases the rising issue where criminals, regardless of cameras and security measures, are so emboldened they operate under a cloak of darkness with no care for visibility or potential capture. OnStar, the vehicle assistance service, has yet to locate Florant's truck since the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has not made any arrests concerning this case.
Ozgur Ozmen, a professor from Arizona State University and lead investigator with the university's Secure and Resilient Cyber-Physical Systems Laboratory, identified modern cars with keyless entry systems as particularly vulnerable to these thefts. "They can basically inject messages that can start the car, that can disarm the alarm system that can do basically, a wide range of attacks," Ozmen elucidated on the methods employed by today's car thieves, information he detailed to 12 News.
The professor also acknowledged that while combating these tech-savvy thieves involves regular updates to car operating systems, it's a perpetual game of cat and mouse as criminals can eventually bypass new protections and still gain access. Ozmen recommended to owners the use of GPS trackers and traditional steering wheel locks as more reliable deterrents; meanwhile, the tightening dance between technology and thievery spirals on, with one attempting to outmaneuver the other as Ozmen's insights suggest a cyclical battle of wits between carmakers and robbers. The full investigation by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office continues to unravel the extent of this problem and seeks to restore peace of mind to vehicle owners in the Valley, as per 12 News.
Florant, reflecting on the theft and hindsight, regretted not having an aftermarket tracking device installed, "I really wish that I had purchased an aftermarket tracking device, so I recommend everyone do that, because that's not something they would look for," he asserted to FOX 10 Phoenix, warning other residents of the emerging threat. Furthermore, Florant advised against confronting the thieves, despite the potential of catching them in the act on security cameras, emphasizing that material possessions are not worth personal safety risks.
