More Than 50 Percent of Scottish Car Thefts Remain Unsolved
Photo: ant2506
Previously, we’ve discussed the vulnerability that keyless car entry systems. This issue is prevalent not just in America but overseas. According to a recent report from the BBC, Scotland has been hit particularly hard with cybersecurity-related vehicle thefts.
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The stats
Per Andrew Picken with BBC Scotland News, more than half of auto thefts in Scotland are unsolved. The latest stats from Police Scotland indicated an overall detection rate of just 24 percent for all auto-related crimes.
As you might expect, the individual stats differed according to different regions within the country. For instance, Morningside, a suburb of Edinburgh, recorded 32 stolen vehicles from 2017-2018, and a detection rate of 15.6 percent. However, the nearby neighborhood of Southside had 52 reports of stolen vehicles, but a 43.5 percent detection rate.
Primary hacking methods
According to Picken, relay attack is the most common type of auto theft in Scotland. Richard Billyeald, chief technical officer at Thatcham Research, a safety and security group funded by the car insurance industry, articulated the high-tech nature of auto thefts in the area. He mentioned how modern car technology has “opened up new avenues” for car thefts. Methods like relay attacks enable criminals to avoid confronting the owner, which in turn, reduces the risk that they’ll be caught in the act.
Law enforcement’s process of adaptation
These high-tech car theft practices have contributed to the surge in vehicle crimes in Scotland. Per the BBC, Police Scotland detected 273 more crimes during 2018-2019 than it did the previous year.
Det Supt Nicola Shepherd expressed confidence that the organization would continue to adapt to the new face of the auto-theft scene. “We work closely with other police forces, car manufacturers, the insurance industry and private sector to improve our shared understanding of technical developments and trends.”
Shepherd encouraged residents to be vigilant of any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. Additionally, she advised that vehicle owners should keep their key fobs in a safe place rather than by the front door.
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News Source: BBC
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