CRAFTY crooks are using Bluetooth technology to work out which cars have valuable devices inside.
Stealing from vehicles is one of the most common crimes in Swindon, with 1,500 cars broken into in the first nine months of the year.
But, while members of the public are getting the message that valuables should not be left on show, the thieves have found a way around it.
Now police are warning people that due to "blue bugging"', putting the sat nav in the boot is not enough to keep the criminals at bay.
PC Sally Davis, of Swindon police, said: "The Bluetooth technology enables criminals to detect if anything is worth stealing from within a vehicle.
"The radius for Bluetooth is approximately 20 metres.
"Technical improvement means that the public have to be more
aware and vigilant about protecting their valuables.
"The best option is to take property with you.
"However, if you are going to leave it, ensure it is hidden away and all Bluetooth turned off.
"Mark all valuables, so this can be easily seen. This will act as a deterrent to thieves as it makes it harder to pass or sell stolen items on."
Thieves are using Bluetooth phones to detect whether motorists have left laptops, mobile phones or state-of-the-art PDAs in their cars.
PC Davis said: "Even if they are out of sight in the boot or glove compartment, the Bluetooth technology enables computer-literate thieves to locate compatible kit easily."
When a car contains a Bluetooth-enabled laptop, a signal on the screen of the thief's mobile displays not just its presence, but also its make or model.
The thieves then have an easy target and the expensive laptops are often stolen to order.
PC Davis said: "Blue-bugging techniques can also be used to hack into mobiles, which are increasingly used as portable data stores, with details such as passwords, PIN numbers and other sensitive information ready for the taking.
"These days, a great deal of confidential company information, bank account details, private emails and so on are accessible through laptops, PDAs and even mobiles.
"People should realise that as well as equipment losses, they are at serious risk of corporate data theft if Bluetooth devices are left enabled and unsecured."
Today Bluetooth-enabled communication devices are becoming a common feature in all of our lives.
The technology provides a way to connect and exchange information between devices such as mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers, digital cameras and games consoles over a short-range radio frequency.
The devices use a radio communications system, so they do not have to be in line of sight of each other, and can be in other rooms, as long as the received transmission is powerful enough.
Police forces across the country are reporting that criminals armed with their own Bluetooth-enabled devices are using the scan facility to locate other devices that have been left in parked and unattended motor vehicles.
The thieves are then more motivated to target these vehicles by the knowledge there is something of high value within.
9:00am Thursday 11th October 2007
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CommentPosted by: boywonder, Swindon on 10:21am Thu 11 Oct 07
[quote]When a car contains a Bluetooth-enabled laptop, a signal on the screen of the thief's mobile displays not just its presence, but also its make or model.[/quote]A quaility example of how inacurate the Adver is.
Theives would only get a signal on their screen if;
A) the laptop is switched on.
B) Bluetooth Discovery Mode is enabled
C) They wouldnt specifically see the make and model, especially if they owner has changed the details.
D) Most laptops will go in to Hibernation (switching everything off in the process) if not used for more than a few minutes to save the battery life.
And who leaves their laptop switched on when in the car, unless they want to kill the battery!
When a car contains a Bluetooth-enabled laptop, a signal on the screen of the thief's mobile displays not just its presence, but also its make or model.
A quaility example of how inacurate the Adver is.
Theives would only get a signal on their screen if;
A) the laptop is switched on.
B) Bluetooth Discovery Mode is enabled
C) They wouldnt specifically see the make and model, especially if they owner has changed the details.
D) Most laptops will go in to Hibernation (switching everything off in the process) if not used for more than a few minutes to save the battery life.
And who leaves their laptop switched on when in the car, unless they want to kill the battery!
Posted by: Swindon AOK on 10:25am Thu 11 Oct 07
Surely if the devices are turned off then there is no bluetooth signal for the thieves to locate.
Who leaves laptops and sat navs in the boot while turned on? Surely the advice is simply to make sure that such devices are switched off when left unattended in vehicles?
Surely if the devices are turned off then there is no bluetooth signal for the thieves to locate.
Who leaves laptops and sat navs in the boot while turned on? Surely the advice is simply to make sure that such devices are switched off when left unattended in vehicles?
Posted by: oldfart, In front of PC on 4:02pm Thu 11 Oct 07
Spot on boywonder, good to see the Adver does its bit and employs numpties!
Spot on boywonder, good to see the Adver does its bit and employs numpties!
Posted by: Tobz on 5:32pm Thu 11 Oct 07
[quote]CRAFTY crooks are using Bluetooth technology to work out which cars have valuable devices inside.[/quote]
No they're NOT - for all of the reasons outlined above!
[quote]Who leaves laptops and sat navs in the boot while turned on?[/quote]
Nobody!
This story is based on an old urban myth which appears to have been doing the rounds by email for ages.
Actually folks - although the Adver is [italic]repeating[/italic] inaccurate information check the quotes - they came from Plod. If Plod can't take the time to distinguish between correct and false information, then it's a big worry for everyone (it's called checking your evidence!) Then again, is this the same team of people who see the destruction of plastic toys and keeping barbie cars off the pavements as a priority...?
I don't like having a pop at Plod, coz generally they do a good job, but this really hasn't been a classic couple of weeks for them on the PR and credibility front, has it???
CRAFTY crooks are using Bluetooth technology to work out which cars have valuable devices inside.
No they're NOT - for all of the reasons outlined above!
Who leaves laptops and sat navs in the boot while turned on?
Nobody!
This story is based on an old urban myth which appears to have been doing the rounds by email for ages.
Actually folks - although the Adver is
repeating inaccurate information check the quotes - they came from Plod. If Plod can't take the time to distinguish between correct and false information, then it's a big worry for everyone (it's called checking your evidence!) Then again, is this the same team of people who see the destruction of plastic toys and keeping barbie cars off the pavements as a priority...?
I don't like having a pop at Plod, coz generally they do a good job, but this really hasn't been a classic couple of weeks for them on the PR and credibility front, has it???
Posted by: Grumpy, Swindon on 9:50pm Thu 11 Oct 07
[quote][bold]Tobz[/bold] wrote:
[quote]CRAFTY crooks are using Bluetooth technology to work out which cars have valuable devices inside.[/quote]
No they're NOT - for all of the reasons outlined above!
[quote]Who leaves laptops and sat navs in the boot while turned on?[/quote]
Nobody!
This story is based on an old urban myth which appears to have been doing the rounds by email for ages.
Actually folks - although the Adver is [italic]repeating[/italic] inaccurate information check the quotes - they came from Plod. If Plod can't take the time to distinguish between correct and false information, then it's a big worry for everyone (it's called checking your evidence!) Then again, is this the same team of people who see the destruction of plastic toys and keeping barbie cars off the pavements as a priority...?
I don't like having a pop at Plod, coz generally they do a good job, but this really hasn't been a classic couple of weeks for them on the PR and credibility front, has it???
[/quote] Don't blame the police. There are small boys out there with toy guns that need destroying and little girls driving recklessly in Barbie cars that need to be taken off the road. They are far too busy to try and apprehend criminals stealing electronics from cars.
Tobz wrote:
CRAFTY crooks are using Bluetooth technology to work out which cars have valuable devices inside.
No they're NOT - for all of the reasons outlined above!
Who leaves laptops and sat navs in the boot while turned on?
Nobody!
This story is based on an old urban myth which appears to have been doing the rounds by email for ages.
Actually folks - although the Adver is repeating inaccurate information check the quotes - they came from Plod. If Plod can't take the time to distinguish between correct and false information, then it's a big worry for everyone (it's called checking your evidence!) Then again, is this the same team of people who see the destruction of plastic toys and keeping barbie cars off the pavements as a priority...?
I don't like having a pop at Plod, coz generally they do a good job, but this really hasn't been a classic couple of weeks for them on the PR and credibility front, has it???
Don't blame the police. There are small boys out there with toy guns that need destroying and little girls driving recklessly in Barbie cars that need to be taken off the road. They are far too busy to try and apprehend criminals stealing electronics from cars.
Posted by: Tarot, Swindon on 10:12pm Thu 11 Oct 07
I did a little experiment this afternoon.
Switched on my sat nav and searched for bluetooth devices with my phone. No devices found. Urban myth confirmed.
I did a little experiment this afternoon.
Switched on my sat nav and searched for bluetooth devices with my phone. No devices found. Urban myth confirmed.
Posted by: Big Mac on 7:55am Fri 12 Oct 07
I expect that old communist Donkey will be along in a minute to say that it's awful that people own laptops and Sat Nav while there are so many salt-of-the-earth people living on benefits.
Maybe this method of locating and stealing such items using Bluetooth is a form of redistribution of wealth that we should all be supporting rather than mocking?
I expect that old communist Donkey will be along in a minute to say that it's awful that people own laptops and Sat Nav while there are so many salt-of-the-earth people living on benefits.
Maybe this method of locating and stealing such items using Bluetooth is a form of redistribution of wealth that we should all be supporting rather than mocking?
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