OBD-II port scanners giving car thieves a new way to steal vehicles

WATERBURY, Conn. (WFSB) - Criminals in Connecticut are using OBD-II port scanners to steal cars by reprogramming key fobs in seconds, according to Waterbury police.

The small devices plug into a port typically found under a vehicle’s dashboard. Sgt. Charles Mauriello, who supervises the Waterbury Police Department’s auto theft task force, said the scanners allow thieves to program a purchased key fob to start a target vehicle — often rendering the owner’s original fob useless.

“Technically, it’s a computer scan tool that plugs into the OBD-II port on your car and allows criminals, essentially, to reprogram a key fob they can purchase,” Mauriello said.

Dave Jesensky, owner of Model Garage in Waterbury, said the same port is used by mechanics and licensed locksmiths for legitimate diagnostic work, but noted that locksmiths are still required to contact a dealer for certain information. Mauriello said criminals have found a way around that requirement.

Mauriello said he has seen the scanners several times in recent months and that they are becoming more common. Unlike older theft methods such as hot-wiring, this approach works on newer vehicles.

“If you’re really good at it, you can steal it in under a minute,” Mauriello said. “It makes more cars readily available to be stolen.”

Mauriello said drivers can take several steps to protect themselves, including a physical lock that covers the OBD-II port, a steering wheel club, or a kill switch. He also said car manufacturers may need to address the issue at the software level.

“Manufacturers might be able to do something on their end with software updates,” Mauriello said. “But yeah, if this continues and becomes more mainstream, it could become a big problem.”