Land Rovers Targeted for Theft on Westside, Including Canyon
Last week, a Range Rover was stolen in the Canyon, which is part of a pattern of these vehicles being targeted on the Westside, LADP Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin said in an email.
“One way these criminals are able to see which vehicles are easy targets, are due to some of the newer vehicle's side mirrors,” Espin said. “If the vehicle is locked the side mirrors are rotated inward (automatically). If the vehicle is unlocked the mirrors are still facing outward.”
LAPD issued the following community alert about a recent increase in auto thefts involving Land Rover vehicles, specifically Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery models.
“Over the past several weeks, detectives have seen a pattern of thefts occurring throughout the West L.A. area,” according to the alert. “These vehicles are being targeted due to their high value and vulnerabilities to electronic key programming and key signal-interception.”
Identified Patterns
Vehicles taken during overnight hours
Thefts occurring from residential streets/driveways and apartment complexes
Suspects utilizing keyless entry exploits or reprogramming devices
In many cases, GPS tracking systems are disabled shortly after the theft
Victims left key fobs inside their vehicles
Crime Prevention Tips
To reduce the risk, LAPD recommends:
Use a steering wheel locking device (highly visible deterrent), or Faraday Pouch (blocks key fob signal)
Parking in a secured garage when possible
Installing a kill switch, GPS tracking system, or OBD Port Anti-Theft Device
Never leaving keys inside the vehicle
Locking your vehicle (making sure side-view mirrors are folded in)
If your vehicle has a GPS system and you can track the current location, contact police immediately. Do not attempt to recover the vehicle yourself. Confrontations with suspects can be dangerous and are best handled by the police.
If you have any information regarding the Canyon car theft, contact West L.A. detectives at (310) 444-1535.
