An article in the newspaper particularly caught my attention unexpectedly, revealing an alarming reality: the rate of car thefts in Montreal was reaching disconcerting heights. This revelation left me perplexed and intrigued at the same time. My curious mind was instantly piqued, and I felt an urgent need to explore this phenomenon more closely, to dissect it, and to understand its origins.

In this article, I will take you with me on this intriguing journey as we delve into the world of car thefts in Montreal. We will unveil the data, analyze the statistics, and attempt to demystify this complex reality. Buckle up, as we set out to uncover the dark side of automotive crime in Montreal.

Data Collection

I undertook the collection of data by retrieving a comprehensive CSV file containing all criminal offenses in Montreal, provided by the city. My goal was to specifically target “Motor Vehicle Theft” offenses. To my great surprise, I found no less than 53,964 recorded cases since 2018.

Rising Thefts

One of the most concerning findings is the constant upward trend in vehicle thefts, which seems decidedly insensitive to any slowdown, as evidenced by this telling graph:

These figures reveal an alarming progression, raising growing concerns.

Modus Operandi

Paradoxically, it turns out that the majority of vehicle thefts occur in broad daylight. Indeed, 51% of these thefts happen during the day when everything seems more visible and obvious. Moreover, among the days of the week, Wednesday holds the unfortunate record for the most frequent thefts:

This surprising data highlights an intriguing reality, where vehicle thefts seem to thrive in broad daylight, defying conventional expectations of criminal activity.

Locations

Here is a heatmap of the five most frequently targeted locations by thieves in Montreal. It is interesting to note that hotels and shopping centers have become prime targets.

Sophisticated Theft

Gone are the days when a simple bunch of metal keys or a broken window was enough to steal a car. Today, thieves have evolved, becoming more cunning and equipped with advanced technologies.

Relay Attack

They use a sophisticated device to amplify the signal, practicing what is called a relay attack.

In this type of theft, the goal of the criminals is to trick the car into believing that the key is in close proximity to the vehicle, even though, in reality, the key is several hundred meters away. They use a signal amplifier to deceive the car, making it believe that the key is inside the vehicle.

Here is a video capturing a theft that lasts only a few seconds.

OBD PORT

The OBD Port is the “On-Board Diagnostics” port usually located above the pedal. It is a communication interface for vehicle monitoring and control systems. It is also used by garages to identify and resolve faults. Problem: Unfortunately, anyone with access to it (e.g., a malicious garage, valet, or car wash employees) can misuse the OBD Port to create a copy of your car’s electronic key! Sometimes, thieves use the OBD Port method by injecting malicious code to change configurations, disable the alarm system, and clone the key.

Consequences

The surge in car thefts has direct consequences for vehicle owners, notably a significant increase in car insurance costs. Some brands and models have unfortunately become prime targets for thieves. Here are the top ten models most stolen in 2022:

Protecting Yourself

It is important to note that no method is foolproof, but the main goal is to make it as difficult as possible for thieves, thus discouraging them from targeting your vehicle.

Lock the Doors and Close All Windows

The first essential step to protecting yourself is to lock your vehicle’s doors and completely close the windows. This simple gesture can significantly slow down a thief.

Faraday Box

To protect your electronic key (key FOB) from relay attacks, you can use a Faraday box. This box blocks the key’s signal, preventing thieves from amplifying it. This method is an effective defense against relay attack attempts and is available at an affordable price, typically around $25.

• Amazon: $25 Faraday Box

OBD PORT Lock

Why Are We Exposed?

Vehicles

equipped with keyless start systems (“push start”) or keyless entry systems (“keyless entry”) do not have a mechanical key to start the engine. They use electronic keys that authenticate with the car via data exchange (by radio signals for keyless systems or by insertion into the dashboard).

How Is the Port Exploited?

These vehicles retain a digital copy of the keys in the vehicle’s engine control unit (ECU). The problem lies in the fact that these digital keys can be downloaded by anyone with access to the vehicle’s “OBD PORT,” then used to program a blank key in less than 60 seconds.

Why Should I Worry?

This duplicate key is identical to the original, giving the thief full access to OPEN, START, and TAKE the vehicle at their convenience, often days or even weeks later.

To protect yourself against this type of attack, you can consider blocking, modifying, or hiding your OBD port. It only takes a few minutes to make these vehicles unbreakable.

Tracking System by TAG

This technology involves placing several wireless devices in hard-to-reach places in the vehicle. Each device is autonomous and emits a signal with a unique identification code that can be read remotely by a receiver.

• Price: $400

Steering Wheel Lock

A simple but effective steering wheel lock can slow down a thief and discourage them, acting as a deterrent.

• Amazon: $69 Steering Wheel Lock

Apple Tag

The Apple tag is a position relay, the tag emits anonymous signals, and anyone with an Apple device passing near the tag sends a signal to the Apple server, allowing you to have a geographical position of the last detection. It is enough to hide it well in your car.

However, it is recommended to disable the speaker inside the Apple Tag to prevent the thief from discovering and deactivating it. Indeed, Apple has implemented this system to prevent unwanted tracking of other users. Imagine the situation where someone discreetly placed an Apple Tag on you, allowing you to be tracked everywhere without your consent.

In the context of stolen vehicles, once the thief has taken possession of your car and detects the presence of an Apple Tag not associated with their Apple account, they will receive a notification indicating that this Apple Tag is following them. In response, they could open the “Find My iPhone” app to try to locate the Apple Tag.

For more details: https://youtu.be/hiivC_4li8Q?t=62

• Amazon: $34 Apple Tag