2022 RAV4 stolen

[Roger_N]

It’s the ease with which it can be taken that makes it so attractive to thieves.

After all most cars can be stolen but the Rav4 and Lexus at present is such an easy target, no need to clone a key, no need to enter the car to access the OBD port, no need to attack someone to steal keys, just bend a panel uncouple a plug then plug in a device and the cars yours for the taking.

The recommend deterrent is a steering wheel lock which could be easily removed with Battery operated tools or even a small hacksaw but it would seem it’s more of a deterrent than the supposedly sophisticated alarm system.

[robo1]

Toyota in the short term needs to come up with some way to secure the wheel arch as clearly it’s just pop open and close.  ? Some form of rivet that needs drilling to remove. Likewise the thieves get their hands in and pull the disconnected lead out. Need some form of tether to stop it being pulled out as they won’t be able to connect their lead in the engine bay. 
Longer term Toyota needs to look at better physical security to vulnerable areas. Metal wheel arches !
Any car can be stolen but the longer it takes the more likely they’ll move to an easier target.

[forkingabout]

11 minutes ago, robo1 said:

Metal wheel arches !

Covers only - but the same could be done with plastic.

A full metal wheel arch as part of the body would add unwanted weight & also could affect the front crash performance of the TNGA design philosophy.

[Terry10]

You wouldn't need a full metal wheel arch to get protection simply a partial one that was screwed/ riveted/ bolted into place.

The weight would be negligible.

Terry

[Strangely Brown]

2 hours ago, Roger_N said:

The recommend deterrent is a steering wheel lock which could be easily removed with battery operated tools or even a small hacksaw but it would seem it’s more of a deterrent than the supposedly sophisticated alarm system.

Yes, some devices can be removed very easily and would be a waste of money. The better ones are far more difficult to remove without a lot of time and unwanted noise. See the group test of devices that I have posted earlier in this thread.
 

[ernieb]

The Milenco steering wheel lock is hardened steel so I think you’’d need something more substantial than a small hacksaw, power tools might do it but I think that would make a lot of noise. The easiest way would be to cut through the steering wheel being careful not to cut through any of the wiring but again an expensive refurbishment.

[forkingabout]

5 minutes ago, ernieb said:

The Milenco steering wheel lock is hardened steel so I think you’’d need something more substantial than a small hacksaw

The lock barrel will be the weak point once the thieves study it & obtain the correct equipment to beat it.

[Roger_N]

My point was that a relatively cheap steering wheel lock is the best deterrent but it takes time to remove and it by no means secure, were as the alarm system can be side step in seconds, so we have to use old tech on a car fitted with a modern alarm system.

The point of attack would be the steering wheel as the base construction will probably be aluminium.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Considering that on a £45-50K vehicle a good quality, tested steering wheel lock costs around 0.2% of the vehicle's purchase price, as a visual deterrent it seems reasonable value.

[ernieb]

30 minutes ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

Considering that on a £45-50K vehicle a good quality, tested steering wheel lock costs around 0.2% of the vehicle's purchase price, as a visual deterrent it seems reasonable value.

Totally agree, it’s very visible, obviously better than nothing and should the worse happen I’ve tired the best I can - for now.

I like to protect the plug/socket that’s attached and it’s likely that an enterprising 3rd party will produce a kit similar to the ODB port locks.

[Rav Rob]

On 11/25/2022 at 8:05 AM, Strangely Brown said:

The StopLock Pro is a good alternative and either should provide a reasonable deterrent.
 

some may have seen earlier in the thread that my son's Fiesta was stolen on the 20th. I managed to replace it with another one  just before ChristmaS and we went and got the Stoplock Pro for it. I am impressed its a heavy duty bit of gear, very easy to fit and very visible. If not for the RAV, this thread was useful for pointers for his car so very interesting.

[mobi]

Is Suzuki Across suffering from same issue as well?

[Strangely Brown]

35 minutes ago, mobi said:

Is Suzuki Across suffering from same issue as well?

That's an interesting question. Apart from the grille, the front of the Across is different in that it has slim LED headlights, which appear to be from the Chinese market Toyota Wildlander.

[Fostel]

On 9/30/2022 at 2:39 PM, ernieb said:

Wow, cool as you like.  It’s got me thinking I’d there is something that I can put under the arch and alarm or make it more secure?

Scorpions and venomous snakes.

[Fostel]

On 9/30/2022 at 9:16 PM, forkingabout said:

The Police have far higher priority things to deal with. 

There overworked & under resourced.

There should be not a higher priority than attack on a private property. You house is your castle. Your stuff is your property.

[Rhymes with Paris]

5 minutes ago, Fostel said:

Scorpions and venomous snakes.

Good idea yes, also a more accessible solution may be to order the plastic spike strips from Amazon.

I am not familiar with the under wing area of the rav, but is there a flat surface that they could be screwed or stuck to that would cause the thieving types to get a painful reminder to leave it alone?

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

25 minutes ago, Fostel said:

There should be not a higher priority than attack on a private property

So protection of life should come below protection of property !

[Rhymes with Paris]

26 minutes ago, Fostel said:

There should be not a higher priority than attack on a private property. You house is your castle. Your stuff is your property.

Unfortunately Fostel, the mindset of the criminals is that your property is their's by right.

And the only thing stopping them getting it is the owner,or fear of getting caught.

The low lifes really don't care about the doctrine of house and castle, they are a different species if you study it a bit.

Not good, I know, but that is the reality as I see it.

[Snapper88]

HI all, I'm new here and from the USA. I'm contemplating purchasing a new RAV4 hybrid which is difficult due to supply and demand and its disturbing to see the ease in which these vehicles are being stolen though not a big problem here in the US yet.

Since I don't own this vehicle yet and I can't see how fender liner is installed, as a temporary measure has anyone tried to install a series of 3" drywall screws thru the fender liner from inside the engine compartment poking out to stab a potential thief? Serves 2 purposes, one is to get DNA from thief for future prosecution and two to obviously discourage future attempts. I don't believe the screws would be long enough to cause tire damage from either turning or the up and down movement of the suspension.

There is a way to disconnect a circuit or circuits within the canbus. I'm a retired MBZ service tech, q/c technical specialist and we were dealing with canbus systems starting back in 1992. Also having install remote alarms as a side business back in the day, any additional remote alarm with a output to a relay to kill a circuit or circuits will stop this from all but the professionals who will tow a vehicle away. 

I need to access wiring diagrams to see how the system is designed and routed and this can be figured out.

[Ravirules]

Unfortunately Snapper88, here in the UK, the law is firmly on the  side of the criminal. If I injured a scumbag car thief, by means of fitting a nail in the wheel arch , it would be my DNA being collected by the Feds and not the perps. I would be sued for damages, and potentially get a criminal record myself. 

I have highlighted to Toyota the ease in which a £50k vehicle can be stolen, and their reply (today) is to fit an aftermarket steering wheel lock, and disable the keyless entry system!

Not the response I was looking for….basically, the onus is put on me to solve their security weakness, and not Toyota.

I am working on the assumption that these criminals will not be wandering the streets randomly looking for RAV4’s to steal…they will be driving round, and making note of addresses where these cars are parked overnight…in my case a driveway. With this in mind, if I ever get notification that my car is ‘In build’ I will be installing a driveway bollard / stop post, getting a disc lock, and a Catloc fitted. If I hear a grinding noise in the night, and sparks are flying.. I should have enough time to load my air rifle and shoot the xxxxxx somewhere unpleasant…I would take my chances in court, should it ever go that far….just hope the folk on the jury are of sound mind!

[Hybrid21]

Certainly due to the info on this thread and the ease of access to the locked vehicle I am now careful not to leave anything in my RAV4 of any value whether personal or monetary.

A shame as I always thought it was a secure place ☹️

 

[Terry10]

Hi all

Well I had my Rav into our friendly body shop this morning and they took the wheel arch cover down.

It is the plug that goes into the near side headlight that they pull off to plug their gizmo into.There isn't anything else there apart from a couple of small plugs that go to other lights ect. I was there to see it and you can get your hand up there quite easily.We looked at the possibility of metal plates ect but none of that will work without possibly invalidating the Toyota warranty.

So if you were thinking of doing something in behind the wheel arch then forget it.

Basically it's down to something like the Ghost 2 or a steering wheel lock, or take yer chances.

Hope this helps

regards Terry 

 

[kucyk]

Is that the blue connector they are using?

I'm asking because I was watching the video about phev and hev differences from some Polish guy specialising in underbody protection and on his video there is a blue plug visible at around 26:25 time stamp.

Btw some main differences he pointed out on the video are: pillows in the front wheel arch covers for additional noise insulation purposes, thicker disk brakes and bigger pistons, aluminium steering knuckles on the front as well as on the back, some noise insulation cover on the gearbox.

[Yugguy1970]

Blimey, even my Focus had two canbuses, the open and the secure.

[Roger_N]

57 minutes ago, Terry10 said:

Hi all

Well I had my Rav into our friendly body shop this morning and they took the wheel arch cover down.

It is the plug that goes into the near side headlight that they pull off to plug their gizmo into.There isn't anything else there apart from a couple of small plugs that go to other lights ect. I was there to see it and you can get your hand up there quite easily.We looked at the possibility of metal plates ect but none of that will work without possibly invalidating the Toyota warranty.

So if you were thinking of doing something in behind the wheel arch then forget it.

Basically it's down to something like the Ghost 2 or a steering wheel lock, or take yer chances.

Hope this helps

regards Terry 

 

Terry

Could the plug be secure to the socket? I’m thinking of something like a cable tie, I know it could be cut off but at least it be a while before they stumbled to the fact and they may just walk away if it takes to long to remove.

Did you take any pictures of the plug/socket you could post?