Motorcycle Gang Hacks 150 Jeeps
Posted by: Timothy Weaver on 05/31/2017 10:47 AM
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Want to steal a Jeep Wranglers? Just ask the Hooligans Motorcycle gang.
The FBI have issued warrants for nine members of the gang and charged them with stealing 150 Jeeps and a few motorcycles by hacking the key fobs.
The gang would simply target a Jeep, get the vehicle identification number, access a proprietary key database and make a new key, then fit the key with a programmed computer chip.
The stolen vehicles were then transported to Mexico. The FBI started following the gang after a number of Jeeps were stolen. The investigation led them to a dealership in Mexico that had at least 20 requests for duplicate keys for cars that were stolen.
Fortunately, surveillance footage captured a few members of the gang disabling the alarm system on a Jeep, using a key and a handheld electronic device to start the engine.
“Based on the surveillance footage, law enforcement agents sent Chrysler a list of around 20 Jeeps that had recently been stolen in San Diego County and asked whether anyone had requested duplicate keys for the stolen Jeeps,” the DOJ release said.
“Sure enough, Chrysler responded that a duplicate key had been requested for nearly every one of the 20 stolen Jeeps.”
Every one of the requests had originated from the dealership in Mexico.
So far, three of the thieves have been arrested while the other six are hiding out in Mexico. They will be charged with Conspiracy to Commit Transportation of Stolen Vehicles in Foreign Commerce and could face up to five years in prison.
Source: SCMagazine
The FBI have issued warrants for nine members of the gang and charged them with stealing 150 Jeeps and a few motorcycles by hacking the key fobs.The gang would simply target a Jeep, get the vehicle identification number, access a proprietary key database and make a new key, then fit the key with a programmed computer chip.
The stolen vehicles were then transported to Mexico. The FBI started following the gang after a number of Jeeps were stolen. The investigation led them to a dealership in Mexico that had at least 20 requests for duplicate keys for cars that were stolen.
Fortunately, surveillance footage captured a few members of the gang disabling the alarm system on a Jeep, using a key and a handheld electronic device to start the engine.
“Based on the surveillance footage, law enforcement agents sent Chrysler a list of around 20 Jeeps that had recently been stolen in San Diego County and asked whether anyone had requested duplicate keys for the stolen Jeeps,” the DOJ release said.
“Sure enough, Chrysler responded that a duplicate key had been requested for nearly every one of the 20 stolen Jeeps.”
Every one of the requests had originated from the dealership in Mexico.
So far, three of the thieves have been arrested while the other six are hiding out in Mexico. They will be charged with Conspiracy to Commit Transportation of Stolen Vehicles in Foreign Commerce and could face up to five years in prison.
Source: SCMagazine
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