Prius Theft Rate

Just because it isn't as popular as other cars doesn't mean there isn't a market. That said, these cars are more likely to be carjacked than stolen in the dark of night. It just isn't practical from a booster's standpoint to bring in a flatbed or break the SKS encryption, as other threads have suggested. With this car, you can't just jam a screw driver in the ignition or cross a few wires to start the car.

 

I think I've heard of only one Prius being stolen, and that's when a thief stole someone's fob out of their hands (if you can't start the car to make a quick getaway, it probably takes too much planning to steal it).

 

My opinion:

As Brandon notes, the electronics (with or without SKS) make it especially difficult to start a Prius without the actual keyfob.

The demand for parts will remain low due to the high reliability of Toyota cars.

A principal market for stolen cars is Latin America, but in the absense of Prius-capable mechanics, and considering the hybrid components, the market for Prius in Latin America will be very weak unless and until Toyota begins selling the Prius there.

All this adds up to a low demand for stolen Priuses, and an expected low theft rate.

 

Brandon and Daniel's arguments ring true IMO.
I'm curious now, what ranks below a prius ?

I found the 2wd Toyota Matrix, and Ford Taurus are about 0.3/thousand, costing insuers about $1/year in losses.

 

I'm glad it's way down on the list. If mine is ever stolen I hope it's taken by professionals because the chances of getting it back are less. If someone takes it I don't want it back.

 

I think the black market rate is low because, 1. The car is so complex that really only a toyota repear center can work on one and would not be getting black market parts, and 2. the [current style] version of the car has only been in production for two years and so the market size is small; and 3. most all current style prius's (2004, 2005, 2006) are under warranty and do not need parts.

But have you ever tried to hot wire a car? It is not easy, and when you consiter that it is IMPOSIBLE to start a prius without the key, a pirus can only be stolen with a tow truck.

 

I learned something today from a CamBrid owner. The RFID chips in the smartkeys are not coded. In other words, someone can just bop around with an rfid scanner and steal the info and make a key for your car. This friend is a credible source--apart from the HyCam, their other vehicle is the Ford SUV hybrid, and he is in the computer biz. This scares me. Anyone know if this is being addressed at all?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jmann @ Jul 1 2006, 07:03 PM) [snapback]279886[/snapback]</div>

I agree with points 2-3. In the past, certain cars that were stolen often were ones like the 90 and 91 Toyota Camry... presumably (as my friend guesses), as a car ages, those old cars needs parts, some coming from stoeln cars. Civics and Integras are popular partly because of the ricer community and them having some comon parts. Priuses sell in very small numbers compared to the rest of the auto industry.

As for impossible, around the time I saw these articles http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13507939/ http://news.com.com/Gone+in+60+seconds--th...tml?tag=st.prev (or ones similar), I remember reading about some Lexuses w/smartkey systems being stolen by thieves going around w/their own ECUs paired w/their keys (wish I could find the article). That's SCARY and does make me worry...

There's some misinformation in the 2nd article "A second antitheft use of RFID is for remote vehicle immobilizers. These tiny chips, embedded inside the plastic head of the ignition keys, are used with more than 150 million vehicles today. Improper use prevents the car's fuel pump from operating correctly. Unless the driver has the correct key chip installed, the car will run out of fuel a few blocks from the attempted theft. (That's why valet keys don't have the chips installed; valets need to drive the car only short distances.)"

That's not true (or at least doesn't seem to be true on Nissans). I distinctly remember driving my 02 Maxima (has RFID chips in its keys) on its valet key for a LOT further than a few blocks. AFAIK, if the RFID chip isn't present, the car won't start at all.

 

The following article gives you a basic idea of the principles behind SKS (PKE). According to the article, the code transmitted thru UHF is encripted and code-rolling.

http://www.automotivedesignline.com/showAr...cleID=175002556

Since this article does not name manufacturers, I have no way of knowing more about the one on the Prius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DougSlug @ Jul 2 2006, 09:02 AM) [snapback]280070[/snapback]</div>

Unless the prius's RFID signature has some sort of way to update the number on the key fob, or it changes based on time or some other factor, than the only possible way for the system to work is if our Prius key system is broadcasting a static number or code, on well known frequencies and a known protocol for the car to work.

Therefore, someone could make a sweep of x ,000 per second or what have you to attempt to find out the number that will allow the car to function.

This is only incrementally better than my previous car, a 1992 Pontiac Bonneville. The ignition key had a chip on it, that had 20 some variations and was more or less just a resistor of a certain value.

For the Prius, or other proximity based systems like it has, a thief could potentially just put a laptop and scanner of a sort in a bag and walk around a mall or the like, looking for RFID hits of a certain type (I'd imagine all toyota's use similiar frequencies). Than pull up next to the target and replay them.

As far as pulling up and running through hundreds or thousands of different key combinations for a car, this is possible, and easily defeated by the car by simply locking out operation for 30 seconds - 5 minutes when more than a certain number are received in an amount of time.

I know all this assumes some technology that isn't likely to be commercially available off the shelf ,. some expertise would be required, but it can be done. In the old days when AMPS & TDMA phones were being cloned as an example, or currently how 802.11 APs can be accessed even if encrypted with a little know how.

 

I guess by the above replys it is unlikely that your CAR is likely to be stolen, but we have read here on PC that the high intensity headlights are a real attraction for theives. Something about them being able to convert certain portions of the headlights to a stun gun or something. Be sure to lock your headlights!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Jul 2 2006, 12:38 AM) [snapback]280018[/snapback]</div>

Valet key? What valet key?
I got two keys with my 2004 Prius, and they are identical. I have to leave one of them with the valet.
I need more info here.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MarinJohn @ Jul 2 2006, 10:33 AM) [snapback]280094[/snapback]</div>

How does one do this?

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters)

For the fourth straight year, GM's luxury Cadillac Escalade topped the list of late-model vehicles most coveted by thieves, according to an analysis of theft claims in 2005 by the insurance industry.

Ford's F-250/350 large pickup truck was in the top five most stolen models along with the Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab pickup and the Sebring four-door sedan, both made by Chrysler.

Pickups have become more popular among car thieves as their sales have grown.

The high-performance Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution four-door sedan was also among the most stolen models for the first time. Investigators suspect it may attract thieves because its parts can be used to customize the standard Lancer.

The Ford Taurus and the Pontiac Vibe and Buick LeSabre, both made by GM, were among the least stolen models.

Investigators affiliated with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which represents insurance companies on safety and consumer issues, examined claims for vehicles between 1 and 3 years old.


The results showed the Escalade represented the most theft insurance claims at more than 13 per 1,000 vehicles in 2005. It also had the most expensive claims at $17,913.

"Almost one-quarter of theft claims for the Escalade are for $40,000 or more, indicating that thieves often are stealing the whole vehicles and not just their parts," said Kim Hazelbaker, the executive who oversaw the analysis.

"It's got pop culture appeal. It's got buzz. It's desirable," said insurance institute spokesman Russ Rader.

Rader noted that newer vehicles are often stolen by professionals for export. But he said Escalades, with a price tag of more than $60,000 and features like leather seats, a navigation system and satellite radio, are sometimes found on blocks stripped of interior parts.

The Escalade's theft losses have been highest in recent years even though it is equipped with a device that's supposed to prevent starting without the proper key.

GM has redesigned the Escalade for 2007 and upgraded its electronic anti-theft system, but the insurance group said it is too soon to know if that will reduce the theft rate.
****************************************************

I thought it was an interesting short article, notice the Toyota Prius is not on the 05 NICB list.
However theft of vehicle parts is growing again.

1) HID headlights & starter ballasts, various makes & models
2) LED lighting, various makes & models

 

Does the debate for theft include vandalism? I live in a college town where druggies and therefore petty thefts are rampant. There's been a culprit (or two or more) in our garage that breaks the cars' windows if the car does not have an alarm system. I'm weary about this, because my prius does not have glass breakage sensors. But.. so far so good.. I don't think these guys realize that they can break my glasses.. yet.

 

I was absolutely stunned recently while washing my 2004 Prius.

I was rubbing out some tires marks off the front bumper (can't figure out how they got there) when suddenly the car horn started blasting away like a car alarm signal (on-off-on-off). The fob was about 10 feet away. I have NEVER heard this alarm before and I had no idea the car was even configured to blast an alarm under any condition.

If I keep the fob with me, when I working anywhere near a door, the doors unlock. Then a little while later, the doors lock again.

How's that for a sensitive alarm system?

 

One thing that makes theft and vandalism information almost useless is the lack of geographical information.

A large number of thefts probably happen in cities, so those of us living far from major cities should experience much lower theft stats.

Areas with high theft rates---and low Prius counts---cause an artificially low theft rate. (There aren't enough Priuses for those busy thieves to steal!)

If we had stats with good geographical info, it would be possible to decide things like "Escalades are at highest risk here," or "The joyriders in this county grab the first thing they can, which is usually a pickup truck."