Cops Think This Tijuana Biker Gang Hacked Their Way Into Over 100 Jeeps Adam Clark Estes - Gizmodo
go to original May 31, 2017

On Tuesday, federal authorities announced that several members of the Tijuana-based Hooligans Motorcycle Club had been indicted for some stealing $4.5 million worth of Jeeps in San Diego County. How’d they do it? Stolen keys? Smash and grab operation? Nah, according to police, these bikers just gained access to a secure key database and then hacked the vehicles’ onboard computers so that they could drive back to Mexico undetected.

Except the Hooligans eventually were detected by a home security camera, hence the indictment. But that was after they allegedly stole an estimated 150 Jeep Wranglers using methods seemingly pulled from Gone in 60 Seconds.

Based on the findings of a three-year-long police investigation dubbed “Operation Last Ride,” the thieves started by patrolling San Diego neighborhoods and recording vehicle identification numbers (VINs) visible through target vehicles’ windshields. This enabled them to fetch key duplication codes from a secure online database containing the proper key patterns. It’s unclear if the bikers hacked the database or had a man on the inside, but authorities say that the key code queries were connected to a Jeep dealership in Cabo San Lucas.

After the thieves cut the duplicate keys, the real fun began. Here’s the San Diego Union Tribune’s account of the thefts themselves:

The Jeep Wrangler has two latches on the outside of its hood, which allows access to the engine. The thieves exploited that unique design, popping the hood and quickly cutting the wires for the horn and the front flashing lights. They would unlock the door with the duplicate key, put the key into the ignition and then use a handheld computer key programmer to connect to the car’s computer.

In other words, the Hooligans allegedly hacked into the cars’ computers.

Once stolen, the Hooligans returned the Jeeps to Mexico where they either sold them as complete vehicles or chopped them up for parts, according to police. Again, authorities think the biker gang had been doing this for at least three years before they were caught. And so far, only three out of the nine men indicted have been arrested. Seven of the nine are United States citizens.

Read the rest at Gizmodo

Photo: Getty

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