This gang traced signals sent from remote keys to steal cars

GHAZIABAD: Four interstate vehicle-lifters were arrested from Indirapuram on Wednesday. Police said they belonged to a gang using high-tech devices for hacking codes securing cars and bypassing engine control modules to steal cars, which they sold in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat and Mumbai later.
“The gang used a spoofing device to capture radio signals between the remote key and the car, decrypt the code from the signals, download it on a laptop or a portable hacking tool, and emulate it to unlock the car and steal it,” said ADCP (crime) Sachidanand.
The cost of these devices starts from Rs 30,000 and can run up to lakhs. Car workshops usually have these to unlock accidentally locked vehicles, restart engines, or fix alarm systems.
“Once the gang stole a car, it used a jammer to disable the GPS. In the car, they would search for the GPS device and throw it out. Then they sold the car to other people,” Sachidanand added.
Cops said they suspect the gang has stolen over 500 vehicles since 2013.
Police identified the arrested persons as Noor Mohammad alias Rinku (32), a resident of Bulandshahr; Hakeem (28), a resident of Baghpat; Mohsin alias Sonu (32), a resident of Meerut; and Shakir (32) from Sunder Nagari, Delhi. Other gang members, Ismail, Sunil Kala, and Chaand Mohmmad alias Chandal, are absconding, said police, adding that Rinku led the gang with Chaand.
Sachidanand said, “After the arrests, Noor told police he used to work as a carpenter but earned very less. He came in contact with Hakeem, who sold milk but struggled to meet his family’s needs. They learnt to steal luxury cars by using electronic devices or tabs. Shakir used to collect scrap, but unsatisfied with his low income, he joined the duo. Sonu worked in a mobile repair shop in Meerut but left that over his low salary and started stealing cars with one Zaid. When Meerut police arrested Zaid, Sonu came to Delhi and started working as a taxi driver. But after some time, he joined the others.”
The ADCP said the gang only stole new model cars after recces, adding that Mohsin, Shakir, Sunil, and Chaand collected information about the demand for the car models.
Investigation revealed the gang has been active for past 10 years. There are 36 cases against Rinku, 32 against Hakeem, 7 against Mohsin and 13 against Shakir in police stations across Delhi-NCR.
Cops recovered three cars—two Brezza and a Kia Seltos—and a tab, jammer, and other electronic items and booked the accused under IPC sections 379 (theft) and 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property). A team is loooking for the absconding accused.