Photo/Illutration A CAN Invader device confiscated by Saitama prefectural police (Shuichi Nimura)

Luxury cars are now at greater risk of being stolen due to a palm-sized device that allows experienced thieves to neutralize the latest in anti-theft technology and drive away in 10 minutes or so.

Thieves can forcefully unlock doors and start the engine after connecting the tool to the car’s wiring system and gaining access to the network that controls computer systems for the engine, lights and other components.

The device is dubbed the “CAN Invader” in Japan after the Controller Area Network (CAN bus).

Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, has been plagued with auto thefts since the turn of the year, with 99 Lexus luxury cars manufactured by Toyota Motor Corp. and 92 Toyota Land Cruisers stolen by the end of August.

In May, prefectural police confiscated a CAN Invader device at a location linked to a 38-year-old man living in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, who was arrested in a case not related to car theft.

It was learned the man stole a Lexus in Chiba Prefecture in April. He was rearrested on suspicion of auto theft in October.

The CAN Invader, which first caught the attention of the police around 2019, has been used across the country.

Earlier this year, Kanagawa and Aichi prefectural police also took action against suspects who used the device to steal cars.

“The CAN Invader has been probably used in thefts of many luxury cars in recent years,” a Saitama prefectural police officer said.

According to the National Police Agency, there were 457 auto thefts in Saitama Prefecture between January and August this year, second only to 565 cases in Aichi Prefecture.

Saitama was followed by Chiba (433), Osaka (402) and Ibaraki (400) prefectures.

While the CAN Invader appears to be not commercially available in Japan, Pro-Tecta, a car security company based in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, said it is sold in Russia. The identity of the manufacturer is not known.

“Even if a car is equipped with the latest technology to start the engine with fingerprint recognition, it is difficult to prevent theft if a CAN Invader compatible with the particular car model is used,” a company representative said.

It is believed that CAN Invader devices have been specifically developed to hack into popular models, such as the Lexus LX sport utility vehicle.

One countermeasure is to have a technician add modifications to prevent tampering with the car’s wiring system.

But there is a drawback. Once the modifications are made, it would require extra work when a car needs servicing for some problem, according to Pro-Tecta.

Thieves traditionally deployed a device that deactivates the car immobilizer, an electronic anti-theft system, and initiated “relay attacks,” which disrupt radio waves emitted by smart keys to unlock doors and start the engine.

But the CAN Invader is particularly difficult to counter.

Saitama prefectural police shared a few tips to prevent car theft and facilitate early detection of stolen vehicles.

For one, they encourage drivers to pull up next to a wall in a parking lot so that the car’s left-hand side is kept close to the wall.

It would make it difficult for perpetrators to tamper with the car’s wiring system because the CAN Invader is connected to the wiring system at a point near the left front wheel.

Police also suggest using anti-theft tools such as a steering wheel lock and tire locks, fitting cars with a theft-prevention alarm that detects shocks and vibrations and a GPS tracker that sends location information and installing security cameras and motion sensor lights in parking spaces.

(This article was written by Ko Sendo, Shuichi Nimura and Shinpachi Yoshida, a senior staff writer.)

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