Method of Stealing '80s Japanese Cars ?

Post by **ARCHINSTL** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:17 am

This is a link to a story on a STL TV station about a man in LA who has stolen 26 cars since January to visit his girlfriend.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/watercooler/ho ... yid=118040
This is the pertinent paragraph in the story:
"Since January, police said, Moreno had been stealing Toyota Camrys and Nissan Sentras by using a simple device that starts Japanese cars of a certain age. Acting on a tip, members of a regional auto-theft task force took him into custody."

Anyone ever heard of the "simple device?" Or defense against same?
Tom M.
P.S. I heard Goldie growling when she was described as being "...of a certain age..."

takza · Post by **takza** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:02 am

Sure you'd want to be talking about it? These cars are so old...sort of doubt they are on the top of the list. Main issues would be vandals and other variants of the street rat.

http://www.nonags.org/members/nijqk/streetrats.jpg

Post by **Petros** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:48 pm

I do not know what they refer to in the story but there is a simple hand held device that looks kind of like a toy cap gun, but instead of a barrel it has two thin metal plates small enough to fit in a key hole. One would put the "key" end (the thin plates) into the lock and pump the trigger. this causes the two plates to vibrate, causing the lock tumbers to vibrate into postion. Then you turn the whole device and it acts like a key. It works on both the door lock and the ignition lock. It is almost as fast to get in a car and start it as using a key.

More modern locks are design to prevent this type of device from working. A "slim-jim" device would also work to open the door (on many older cars), but it will not help you start the engine and unlock the steering wheel.

No one stealing cars for money would steal an old Tercel, but that does not protect you from joy riders like the one in the story.

keith · Post by **keith** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:33 pm

As I remember, these cars had weak tumblers, so that as the cars got older, just about any key you could get into the lock would work.

dcn · Post by **dcn** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:50 pm

Somebody stole (well moved) my car when I had had it for about a year. Used the same technique I think, any old key will work..

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:04 pm

with our cars your biggest worry is worn out tumblers.

my key worked in a 85 camry once, opened the door and started it no problem.

tonythayer · Post by **tonythayer** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:45 pm

Skullone's key will start my car, though my key won't do anything in his. I think all my tumblers are so worn I could use a skinny screwdriver and it would be the same.

jwk77pgf · Post by **jwk77pgf** » Thu May 10, 2007 4:58 am

I used to go to a lot of auctions, I could start just about any Toyota from the 80's with my tercel hatchback key. I never could get my tercel 4wd key to do it, so not sure what the deal is there. But instead of waiting for keys at the auction, I would about 98% of the time, just jump in the car and start it with my key! People thought I was nuts! Anyway, it's just funny to see a post about it.