Steve E C

I must comment on how knowledgable, practical and personable everyone is in this group who’s responded to my situation - theft of my RX450 about 16 days ago. Insurance company gave me a very fair price for my loss and I’ve returned to my Lexus dealer and bought a ex-demonstrator, low mileage rx350, registered in May 2023. I’ve asked for either assurance that the model has improved anti Can-bus security or that the retro fit is done before I take delivery - local guys are not fully informed - but they will Be!

On 10/2/2023 at 9:21 AM, LenT said:

This is very sad news indeed, Steve.  It’s a modern evil with which every car owner can empathise.

The infuriating reality is that the security standards built in to a 2018 car are easily defeated by 2023 technology.  Other than the car’s immobiliser, did you have any other, more visible deterrents?  A steering wheel lock, for example?

MInd you, I recently had a conversation with one manufacturer claiming a high standard of resistance for their lock, who nevertheless conceded that given sufficient time, privacy and the right tools, any mechanical lock can be defeated.  The trick is to make the effort and risk not worth the trouble it takes!

Did you place your key into a Faraday Pouch to prevent the signal being cloned?  This is a favourite method of access in supermarket thefts as the thief knows the car owner is going to be away for some time.

Have you checked with the car park operator to see if your car was covered by CCTV?  At the very least, try to find out when the car actually left the car park.  The area you mention is - I suspect - well monitored by cameras and while the Police may not like it, it is possible to track the car’s progress from the car park.

If the thief thought that it might have a Tracker, then the usual practice is to park it up somewhere secluded for a few days to see if it’s collected.  So having an idea where it went could narrow the search area.

The Police may claim it’s not worth the man hours for one car, but your car was probably stolen to order and represents the tip of a profitable organised crime business.

I hope it all turns out alright for you.

Many thanks for you message. I was so unaware I was at risk and totally ignorant about such things as Can Bus until it was too late. Like thousands of others I made the mistake of thinking because I had an expensive modern car then so long as I locked it in a ‘safe’ public area in broad daylight I should be able to return to it and drive home. 
There was CCTV across the car park but as I left my vehicle for c4 hours the police suggested lack of resources prevented them being able to go through it all. I don’t blame them at all, but it does somewhat defeat the benefit of having CCTV if car theft of a £50k+ piece of property is unable to be fully investigated. 
My South West based Lexus dealer has told me that there is a recall warranty programme underway but that it is focussed upon major cities as present but that it could be possible to get the security update done elsewhere if it’s requested - albeit it sounds like a pretty crude fix with a plate being fitted above the near side wheel arch to prevent access to the can bus. 
5 days in I’m expecting my insurance company offer for my car and whatever I get I’ll be sure to take all the steps I can to make it as secure as possible. 

Do we know if new models or approved used from Lexus dealer will have to additional security update as a matter of course before sale is made. 
I wish they had told me about this solution before me finding out about it after my car was stolen!

Just 2 days ago on Saturday 30th Sept I had my rx450h stolen from  large busy supermarket car park in broad daylight in Edmonton North London. The police have already closed the case as it is likely to have been a professional job probably using what is known as CAN bus method. Basically the car’s micro-system can be infiltrated and within a minute the car can be unlocked, the immobiliser disengaged and driven away. 
Lexus cannot continue to deny this is now an issue that must be addressed immediately and surely there is a case for retrospective compensation for those of us who have had vehicles stolen through the lack of adequate security.