2022 JTRD stolen from driveway (don't let it happen to you)

[DaveL]

In the early hours of Jan 3, my much-loved 2022 JT Rubicon Diesel was stolen from my driveway here in Ottawa. It was locked and alarmed (factory) and all that, but the perps very likely had cloned my key fob. I had no idea that this was a thing that, now having read all about it, is extremely common. In fact, a neighbour two streets over had their new Wrangler Unlimited stolen on the very same night.

This was my best build yet, and because I had done it completely on my own, without any pro help, it was very personal. It was my fifth rig and I was getting it ready for a big overland trip this summer. I was very proud of it--Jeepers know how it feels when you put so much of your 'self' into your build.

The insurance adjuster is coming to my place today to go over my documentation and discuss the reimbursement they will offer. It'll be the lesser of:

• Actual purchase price
• Manufacturer's list price w/equipment at time of purchase
• Price of a new similarly equipped replacement vehicle

Sadly it'll end up being the second one--prices were already above list when I got it back in February of 2022. And now, costs are way up, and interest rates are way higher. But that's not the worst of it; it is highly unlikely the thousands I put into it in mods will be covered.

So, here comes the cautionary part of the tale. Do this now if you have a keyless entry/push button start system on your Jeep and you want to KEEP your vehicle.

1. Disable the keyless entry/proximity feature (in the vehicle settings on the infotainment system)
2. Keep your key fobs in a Faraday box at home, away from doors and windows, and a Faraday pouch while in the vehicle or on your person walking about
3. Get a kill-switch - if you go with a DIY or inexpensive one, you must hide that switch well; if you want peace of mind, get a Ghost II system (expensive, but I'll be doing it for my next one)
4. Get a Club or other physical deterrent, like a brake pedal-to-steering wheel bar

The detective assigned to my case told me about 100 vehicles are stolen every single day in Ottawa; in a call he had had with the Insurance Bureau of Canada (or whatever they're called), they said in 2021 alone there were CAD $700M in vehicle thefts. These thieves are organized, and it's big business. They can get those key fob scanners on Amazon. Jeeps and other vehicles go straight to the Port of Montreal and end up overseas.

Don't be complacent like I was. Whatever the cost and inconvenience it may represent, it pales in comparison the pain of losing something you put your heart and soul into.

Chris

Chris I'm sorry to hear your rig was stolen. I'm a has-been Ottawa lad. Just added hood locks for the two tabs on the side. I'll look at the Ghost II system. Thanks for the hint.

DaveL
(ex-Bell's Corners)

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[AEsco48]

How was your key fob cloned? How does that work?

 

[ecidiego]

How was your key fob cloned? How does that work?

These people do it the same way Jeep makes you a new key if you lose yours. Sucks. I wish manufacturers could make this impossible.

 

[AEsco48]

These people do it the same way Jeep makes you a new key if you lose yours. Sucks. I wish manufacturers could make this impossible.

Yea but do they need access to the Jeep (like parked out in a parking lot and locked), or is some one walking around whole foods with a cloner in their backpack and just walks up close to you?

 

[Caspien]

Chris I'm sorry to hear your rig was stolen. I'm a has-been Ottawa lad. Just added hood locks for the two tabs on the side. I'll look at the Ghost II system. Thanks for the hint.

DaveL
(ex-Bell's Corners)

Wouldn't recommend adding the locks on the tabs, as those are pretty easily removed.

May want to look into something like the Bolt branded hood latch lock that codes itself your physical key.

Basically, you pull the grill off, and rivet the lock to the front end. It locks the latching mechanism from being able to operate, unless they have the physical key. Not going to stop a determined thief with a cutting wheel or torch, obviously, but is definitely more secure than the small locks on the corners.

... And ultimately, I guess, the more you change your vehicle, so it's not a standard run of the mill smash and grab, that's what matters the most... Most of your non-stop tier thieves are going to see something different, be unprepared for it, and move on to one that's easier to grab.




~ Casp

 

[porsharman]

Uh, can't they just pull the tazer? Once they are in, a bypass cable will let them do almost anything.
A smart thief would look there first - I would. If I was stealing a Jeep, first thing I'd do - look under the dash. Bypass the firewall.
Unless removing the tazer kills the whole truck, it's only going to stop a very casual thief.
Or does it have other cabilities?

My understanding of how the Tazer works is you can start the vehicle but then you need to input a code. If you fail to do so the vehicle will shut down and can’t be restarted. Not sure what the time delay is. Perhaps someone on this forum knows more information on this Tazer function.

 

[Rummie]

That sucks! I feel bad for you.

While you can never 100% protect your Jeep from being stolen you can prevent the majority of thieves from getting it. From what I have read, the tow truck method used for vehicle theft is a very small percentage of total thefts. Repeaters seem to be the easy way for criminals to get into vehicles and drive them away. Traveling groups move around and steal like this often. If you get a ping from your Jeep after they get it, it's likely headed towards a port city to go overseas.

The best thing I have found to minimize the chances that yours is the one stolen is having Ravelco installed. I don't think you will find many thieves that would try to go to the trouble of disabling one of these. They want to get the car and get out of there quickly.

Nothing is 100% so try to have good insurance and take whatever steps you can to make yours less likely to be taken.

 

[HenryG]

The club is probably the best deterrent. They can see it and know it will take some time to remove it. Easer to move on to an easer target. There is a device on the market that will communicate with the car, read it's codes, and program a new fob. The old fob is not needed. The kill switch is a good idea. They want cars they can get in and be gone. They also take the car and park it someplace hidden for 3 days just incase you have a tracker on the car.

 

[DaveL]

Wouldn't recommend adding the locks on the tabs, as those are pretty easily removed.

May want to look into something like the Bolt branded hood latch lock that codes itself your physical key.

Basically, you pull the grill off, and rivet the lock to the front end. It locks the latching mechanism from being able to operate, unless they have the physical key. Not going to stop a determined thief with a cutting wheel or torch, obviously, but is definitely more secure than the small locks on the corners.

... And ultimately, I guess, the more you change your vehicle, so it's not a standard run of the mill smash and grab, that's what matters the most... Most of your non-stop tier thieves are going to see something different, be unprepared for it, and move on to one that's easier to grab.




~ Casp

Thanks. Bolt would have been my choice. We have the forward facing trail camera there. I contacted Bolt. They don't have anything that fixes that right now.

 

[Horde]

In the early hours of Jan 3, my much-loved 2022 JT Rubicon Diesel was stolen from my driveway here in Ottawa. It was locked and alarmed (factory) and all that, but the perps very likely had cloned my key fob. I had no idea that this was a thing that, now having read all about it, is extremely common. In fact, a neighbour two streets over had their new Wrangler Unlimited stolen on the very same night.

This was my best build yet, and because I had done it completely on my own, without any pro help, it was very personal. It was my fifth rig and I was getting it ready for a big overland trip this summer. I was very proud of it--Jeepers know how it feels when you put so much of your 'self' into your build.

The insurance adjuster is coming to my place today to go over my documentation and discuss the reimbursement they will offer. It'll be the lesser of:

• Actual purchase price
• Manufacturer's list price w/equipment at time of purchase
• Price of a new similarly equipped replacement vehicle

Sadly it'll end up being the second one--prices were already above list when I got it back in February of 2022. And now, costs are way up, and interest rates are way higher. But that's not the worst of it; it is highly unlikely the thousands I put into it in mods will be covered.

So, here comes the cautionary part of the tale. Do this now if you have a keyless entry/push button start system on your Jeep and you want to KEEP your vehicle.

1. Disable the keyless entry/proximity feature (in the vehicle settings on the infotainment system)
2. Keep your key fobs in a Faraday box at home, away from doors and windows, and a Faraday pouch while in the vehicle or on your person walking about
3. Get a kill-switch - if you go with a DIY or inexpensive one, you must hide that switch well; if you want peace of mind, get a Ghost II system (expensive, but I'll be doing it for my next one)
4. Get a Club or other physical deterrent, like a brake pedal-to-steering wheel bar

The detective assigned to my case told me about 100 vehicles are stolen every single day in Ottawa; in a call he had had with the Insurance Bureau of Canada (or whatever they're called), they said in 2021 alone there were CAD $700M in vehicle thefts. These thieves are organized, and it's big business. They can get those key fob scanners on Amazon. Jeeps and other vehicles go straight to the Port of Montreal and end up overseas.

Don't be complacent like I was. Whatever the cost and inconvenience it may represent, it pales in comparison the pain of losing something you put your heart and soul into.

Chris

Mine was stolen on December 22nd in the GTA. It was found near the airport in a hotel
Parking lot.

 

[Minty JL]

Chris I'm sorry to hear your rig was stolen. I'm a has-been Ottawa lad. Just added hood locks for the two tabs on the side. I'll look at the Ghost II system. Thanks for the hint.

DaveL
(ex-Bell's Corners)

Yeah I need to research more about this Ghost II system.

Hell get them on board here as a vendor

 

[Gvsukids]

The club is probably the best deterrent. They can see it and know it will take some time to remove it. Easer to move on to an easer target.

There has already been discussion about the ease of defeating the club.

 

[Free2roam]

I sent Ghost II some information. Hoping there is an installer in my area. Nice set up

 

[Minty JL]

Found this while doing some research:

I need to get a spare OBD 2 port to test it on

 

[Caspien]

Thanks. Bolt would have been my choice. We have the forward facing trail camera there. I contacted Bolt. They don't have anything that fixes that right now.

Aww.. that sucks

The one good reason to not get the factory trail cam then... (We actually didn't opt for it, ourselves, since I'd probably just stick a GoPro up there, with the mobile app running in the cab.


~ Casp

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