Experts warn that because of the crisis and rising auto parts prices, car thefts may sharply increase this year. Testing 11 cars for the Russian market showed their anti theft and anti break in protection is much weaker than the same models in Britain. The article explains how thieves use high tech from code grabbers to GSM jammers and why security system makers are still lagging behind. Experts also propose tougher laws and a separate police unit to fight car thefts.

According to experts, this year, due to the economic crisis and rising auto parts prices, the number of car thefts will increase sharply.
The forecasts of car security system developers, as well as insurers, are by no means encouraging, so they are proposing that ways to counter these crimes be developed at the legislative level.
Recently, the Professional Association for Combating Vehicle Theft tested 11 cars supplied to our market for their protection against theft and against theft from the car itself. It also compared the results with data on these same cars supplied to the UK market. The fact is that the Foggy Albion is considered the benchmark in this matter. And the ratings of cars supplied to the Russian market were conducted according to its methods.
The degree of protection is assessed on a five-point scale. Depending on it, insurance companies calculate the insurance premium. The lower the degree of protection, the higher the rate. As a result of this state program, only reliably protected cars are supplied to the UK market. The rest simply are not in demand there.
The Russian Association for Combating Car Theft, using the English methodology, checked cars supplied to our market. The result was dismal. For example, the Mersedes E-class in its English configuration received a rating of 5x3. The first number is protection against theft, the second is protection against theft from the car. In the Russian version, this car received a rating of 3x1. Toyota Camry in England - 5x4, in Russia - 2x1. The most disappointing result was shown by the Mitsubishi Outlander: in England - 5x4, in Russia - 1x1. That is, the degree of protection of this car in our market is minimal.
Car thieves are increasingly using high-tech innovations. According to experts, now 95 percent of anti-theft devices presented on our market are easily breached. Car thieves in Russia differ from their counterparts abroad. As a rule, they are technically savvy people, often with higher education. A kind of intellectual criminal elite. It was they who developed the so-called code grabbers. These devices read the code sent by your key fob to the car. Using the captured signal, they can easily open the car. This theft technology has already been reduced to the size of an ordinary key fob and is openly sold on the Internet.
As a countermeasure, manufacturers of security systems came up with the so-called dialogue system. That is, when the key fob exchanges not one, but a series of code signals with the car. However, code grabbers that can crack such sophisticated systems can already be found on the Internet as well.
Against satellite tracking systems, GSM jammers have begun to be sold on the "black market." Manufacturers have so-called anti-jammers against them. If someone suddenly tries to jam the signal, the car turns on an autonomous siren. This, according to manufacturers, should scare off thieves together with their device.
For now, thieves are winning this "arms race." Experts believe that the avalanche of car thefts can only be reduced at the legislative level. The State Duma is considering a bill that will toughen liability for car thieves. According to Viktor Pokhmelkin, chairman of the "Movement of Russian Motorists," changes are also needed in the organization of law enforcement agencies. He believes that the idea of creating a separate unit within the Ministry of Internal Affairs to combat car theft should be revived.