Malaysian laptop thieves using mystery gadget to pick which cars to break into

Malaysia's New Straits Times reports that tech-savvy thieves in the district of Petaling Jaya have been using a "special gadget" in order to identify which parked cars have laptops hidden inside of them, with 255 laptops stolen from cars there so far this year. The police, who have not been able to get their hands on one of these mysterious devices, are stumped and are recommending that people carry their laptops with them rather than leave them in their cars. There have been a few (almost certainly) apocryphal tales of thieves using WiFi and Bluetooth to detect the presence of a laptop in a car or home, anyone have any idea what these guys are using? Are they shopping at the Engadget store, or are the police there just trying to come up with a fancy rationale for a crime wave?

[Thanks, Joel]

[Sam @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:12PM]

They are using a blue tooth remote power acitivation switch which alows them to know when a signal is reached. This still takes some guess work as it is non-directional.

[rdrkx80 @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:18PM]

some people configure their laptops to automatically connect to a wireless network. it wouldn't be hard to run a router of a 9 volt battery, manage it from your own laptop, and see when a laptop connects.
However, this would only work with laptops are on, and you'd end up with a lot of connections from laptops outside cars as well.
Another idea, LOOK IN THE WINDOW!

[Kevin @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:19PM]

When i was there for holidays over the summer, i heard from my goddad that they use some device to detect the battery. The truth to that statement is unverified. Oh btw, its Petaling Jaya and not Petalan Jaya =)

[Roy Siow @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:19PM]

It's "Petaling Jaya", not "Petalan Jaya"

[zamar @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:26PM]

this maybe a reach but i was thinking bluejacking/bluesnarfing to control a laptop and maybe launch a media player to launch the speakers???

[Jason @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:31PM]

They are doing something to detect if the laptop is there without it being turned on.

I highly doubt every laptop they have stolen is powered up and detectable via Wi-Fi.

[beef @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:33PM]

Heat? Infared? Just a guess. If it were a macbook or dell you could look for the cars that are on fire. ;)

[ChazB @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:34PM]

I seem to remember reading an article a year or so ago where this was happening in either North America or Europe. The thieves were using Bluetooth enabled cell phones to connect to Bluetooth enabled laptops that were set to auto discover and connect to Bluetooth devices. From there, since Bluetooth has such a short range compared to WiFi, it was a matter of smash and grab.

[shawn @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:35PM]

it must be something that is still active even when a laptop is in standby. i wonder if it is simply some power signature?

[jds @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:35PM]

RFID? If you think of how RFID works, perhaps a signal could generate some type of response out of a laptop. It wouldn't need to be coherent, just recognizable. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that if you induced a field accross a laptop that you'd get something out of it.

[ChazB @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:37PM]

Here is the article I was talking about. http://tinyurl.com/ey9zw

[juan @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:54PM]

I know that even if a notebook is not configured to Wake up LAN you can still send a trigger voltage to a LAN port (needs quite a bit of knowledge for that) and turn the computer on, I wonder If theres a similar way to do it by WLAN

[Taylor Alexander @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:01PM]

"RFID? If you think of how RFID works, perhaps a signal could generate some type of response out of a laptop. It wouldn't need to be coherent, just recognizable. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that if you induced a field accross a laptop that you'd get something out of it."

Yeah.... no. "if you think of how RFID works", you'll realize that you only recieve a response from RFID tags, which are designed to recieve a signal and send out some data in response, usually using the miniscule energy provided by the wave from the reader to power itself. There's no way you could do that with something not designed to do that, because, well, it just wouldn't work. RFID tags aren't simple, and things not designed to be RFID tags can't spontaneously act like them any more than a ferret can spontaneously act like an F117A Nighthawk.
-Taylor

[Ron Larson @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:01PM]

This same method was/is being used in Sydney, Australia. My housemate is from there and she swears up and down that thieves in Sydney were using the same technique two years ago. She said that it had to do something with being able to detect the presense of a battery. That would indicate to a thief that the car probablly has a laptop in it.

I've argued with her about this.. but she swears it is true. I can only think of an RFID tag on batteries is being detected.

I wonder if that Microsoft Windows XP liense sticker on the bottom of my laptop has an RFID tag in it?

[laxpod @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:07PM]

if it detects a battery..... and a car has a battery... then wouldnt that make things difficult?

[Daniel Proven�al @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:13PM]

A friend of mine who had his laptop stolen last year told me that the thieves are using radio frequency "sniffers" to detect the laptop's internal clock, which is running constantly.

[ElectroGeek @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:18PM]

How can they detect any type of signal from the victims laptops unless they are turned on? Are these people leaving their laptops on in their cars with the WiFi and/or Bluetooth enabled? As far as RFID is concerned what type of chip would be present on a laptop that would emit a signal that could be scanned? This is rather mysterious. Simple solution. Don't leave your laptop in your car.

[Ryan @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:21PM]

RFID is a good possibility... My laptop (dell) is at work or else i'd go check, but each manufacturer has a way of tracking the computer through the "building" process.... I believe dell has several barcoded numbers on the bottom besides a serial#... I think theres a service tag and something else... I don't know if any of these tags are RFID tags as well.. but there sure is a possibility of some manufacturers using RFID tags to track the build process and obviously they're going to leave them on the laptop when they ship to the customer (probably use the same tags to track the computer when it comes back to the factory for warranty work).


another thing I haven't checked.... theres the obvious "Wake on lan" option, but do any laptops have a "wake on wifi" or "wake on bluetooth" option?

[MoLoToF @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:23PM]

That is very interesting what you all said... What make and model of laptops are being stolen and if it has to do with dealers that have an RFID for easy tracking and resale ?

UP here in NY my laptop (DELL) was stolen from my car and it was hidden under the seat and no one saw me open it up when i parked the car, and after 15 min the window was smashed and the bag was gone... (Laptop was dead OFF)

Makes you think twice ... RFID on XP license ? RFID embedded inside laptop ? no way someone will notice a dead laptop as the wifi and bluetooth don't run on battery power while the laptop is turned off.

I guess i am gonna have to look into this issue.

Any comments ?????????

[oly va ha @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:29PM]

if it detects a battery..... and a car has a battery... then wouldnt that make things difficult?

Posted at 10:07PM on Aug 22nd 2006 by laxpod [ ! ]

no because car batteries are made out of lead and sulfuric acid while laptop batteries are of lithium ions... different elements and therefore differert in anytype of read out...

[Anthony @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:35PM]

Am I the only one to think that most of these laptops ARE OFF? I mean if someone can show me how to detect WiFi/Bluetooth/RFID while a computer is powered down, I'll give them a million dollars.

[chaoticset @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:36PM]

Maybe the magical mystery tech is a pair of binoculars and a good old-fashioned stakeout. A couple of guys with radios and brains could put the thing together.

You watch a parking lot for a few days, figure out which people have laptops, then watch when those people don't take their enormous briefcases out of the car. Radio the smash-and-grab guy and he runs out, smashes the car, grabs the bag, and takes off. Boom.

How did Johnny Mnemonic put that? "If they expect high tech, go low tech."

[Andrew @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:47PM]

The only thing I can think if is some sort of Van Eck phreaking device-however I'm not sure one has ever actually been built, let alone modified to detect something other than the display. And even then, the laptop would have to at least be in sleep mode.

"Van Eck phreaking is the process of eavesdropping on the contents of a CRT or LCD display by detecting its electromagnetic emissions. It is named after Dutch computer researcher Wim van Eck, who in 1985 published the first paper on it, including proof of concept...In the paper, Van Eck reports that in February 1985 a successful test of this concept was carried out with the cooperation of the BBC. Using a van with a VHF antenna array, they were able to eavesdrop from a "large distance"....While Van Eck phreaking potentially offers eavesdropping options without the interested person having to compromise the affected system in any hardware- or software-related way, in fact without even having to be in the same room, the practical applications are likely limited, unless unknown and substantial breakthroughs in ease of use have been made." -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Eck_Phreaking

I read about it in Neal Stephenson "Cryptonomicon," but in a fictional novel, anything can happen. I think chaoticset is right. I don't know what this particular district houses, but if it's a larger commercial area with lots of offices all you need to do is stake out a few parking lots around lunch time.

[feichai @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:52PM]

I gotta agree with chaoticset!

It's just a Honda-cup (that's what we Malaysians call motorcycles below 250cc), and some donuts and coffee == stalker/stake out.

They just follow you from work / home. Knowing very well, most office workers go off for dinner/movie after their work, and where's the best place to put a notebook? In the trunk of course. So, boom!

If thieves could afford scanners (Bluetooth, RFiD, etc), I doubt they would be stealing laptops anymore-lah!

[MoLoToF @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:53PM]

chaoticset you possibly right in the stakeout but for someone that does not go to the location on a daily basis and did not go there for 30 days and just got the laptop 40 days before that happened, makes you think about it. Also out of the 40 days the laptop was not in the car and probably only 3 times or so. it might be a pro tracker/thief was on to it.

[susan @ Aug 22nd 2006 11:10PM]

Oh. I am not really familiar on this stuff but I sure can say that their theives are really geniuses (if this is really true, of course).

[Tony Rayo @ Aug 23rd 2006 12:03AM]

I wonder if IR had something to do with it. My computer can be turned on/off via remote but I don't know how that would help them find a PC all the time... maybe if they released details about the brands and type of PCs that are being stolen (but the makers probably would hate to see their name topping that list).

- Tony R.

[Tnegg @ Aug 23rd 2006 12:59AM]

I've been informed by our local PD that they have been alerted what is being used. It's not one simple item as suspected.
Here are the part numbers and specs... Companion 24 in. Bolt Cutters Sears item #00965676000 Mfr. model #65676

The second item is.. Meade® Comet Chaser 9 x 63 Roof Prism Binoculars Sears item #08010127000 Mfr. model #10127

Sorry I couldn't resist after all the serious $hit...

[tambo @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:03AM]

From what I've heard, the thieves are using some sort of RF sniffer to detect the specific frequency emmitted by laptop internal battery which powers the bios/internal clock.

Several of my collegues just lost their laptops when their cars were broke in. Although they try to hide the laptops (cover with something else, put in the boot), but the thieves managed to locate the laptops.

[MoLoToF @ Aug 23rd 2006 4:36AM]

Well thats a good find, i think it is time for some aluminum wrappers, like wrapping your lunch, and besides that it is wrapped, you would come back to find it nice and toasty (in case you have a DELL with a warm battery).

[DonL @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:24AM]

****Thermal Detection Device****

[ash @ Aug 23rd 2006 8:14AM]

DonL, don't you mean they're using a thermal dell-tection device?

[gorkon @ Aug 23rd 2006 8:49AM]

It IS RFID:

http://www.quetel.com/docs/rfid/assetidspec.htm

[mancmonkey @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:21AM]

A guy in our office had his laptop stolen from his boot/trunk of his car whilst staying at a hotel.

3 cars in the car park were done that night, the only ones with laptops in the boot/trunk.

The policeman who turned up said that they were using an electricians tool that detects electrical currents to "sweep" over the boots.

As most cars in the uk have their batteries in the front, then there was no interference from them.

I'm no expert so feel free to pick apart what I've said but this is what the policeman told him.

[dave @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:27AM]

My guess: mammilian optic organs. They have a sensitivity to certain wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that many objects reflect even when they are off, especially during the day. These wavelengths have very little attenuation through car windows.

[fucter @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:13AM]

My cd player has a clock that's always running too, good try though guys.

[brian @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:16AM]

This is easy, The car that is onfire has a dell in it.

[joe @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:45AM]

dave: lol, mammalian optic organs. i think i have them too =P. let's go steal me some lappies!

[James Grinter @ Aug 23rd 2006 12:04PM]

Time to be buying one of these autosafe things.

Over here in the UK, BT have been fitting physical lock-boxes, for laptops, to all their engineer's vans for years.

[TeK-RaTT @ Aug 23rd 2006 12:59PM]

I would bet on the security RFID chips that are embeded in alot of laptops and have been for years. IBM has been using RFID in their laptops since i can remeber. At least since the 600e. There is a package you can buy from IBM that allows you to to have an instant inventory of all the laptops/desktops that come in and out of a building. No need for power to be on. Why couldn't someone build or have bought a portable rfid detector?

[TeK-RaTT @ Aug 23rd 2006 1:11PM]

RFID/Asset ID™ Traq Application

Summary: Improve your company's ability to account for and track information technology assets while dramatically reducing the time for inventory, checking hardware and software configuration, and maintaining physical security. Asset ID™ Traq works with embedded radio-based identification tags. The system allows users to read from and write to RFID tags that come embedded inside select IBM desktop and Thinkpad computers. Tags are also available for attachment to other high-value assets.

http://www.quetel.com/docs/rfid/assetidspec.htm

[trakz @ Aug 23rd 2006 2:04PM]

...My cd player has a clock that's always running too...

Sweet! I just found a car with a CD player in it, I can steal.

If you can detect any hardware via the internal clock, I'm sure a thief would be happy to know that the time spent breaking into a car would yeild some tech goodness.

[macona @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:03PM]

You know it could be a inductive tone sensor used for tracing wiring. They sense the em field around the wire and convert it to audio so you get an audio tone the same frequency as the field. I have one someplace. It will pick up all sorts of different tones from different equipment. They can be pretty sensitive.

Since the cars power is supplied with a battery there is no em emission from the electrical system (Well, except for the cars on-board computer)

[Christian @ Aug 23rd 2006 7:41PM]

"Am I the only one to think that most of these laptops ARE OFF? I mean if someone can show me how to detect WiFi/Bluetooth/RFID while a computer is powered down, I'll give them a million dollars"

Uh, dude?

"...RFID tags, which are designed to recieve a signal and send out some data in response, usually using the MINISCULE ENERGY PROVIDED FROM THE WAVE FROM THE READER TO POWER ITSELF."

You owe me $1,000,000 USD. Payable through paypal to [e-mail]

[Daniel @ Aug 23rd 2006 7:56PM]

Ok, so when you wrap a RFID tag with foil, it effectively disables it, by creating a Faraday cage, right? A car, with its metal body, is a Faraday cage as well, but maybe it's not as effective in blocking RFID tranmissions?

[John Stracke @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:00PM]

As to Van Eck radiation: it has been used in the real world. The US military figured out how to exploit it and defend against it in the Tempest program; today, all equipment processing classified information must meet Tempest standards. In 1993, when I was working for a defense contractor in Crystal City (next to the Pentagon), there was always a van parked on the street, which I was told was monitoring for Tempest emissions.

[Nathan @ Aug 24th 2006 12:08AM]

Sounds like one for Mythbusters to me.

[[Unknown Agent] @ Aug 25th 2006 9:31AM]

Perhaps they are driving looking for ppl using their laptops in a car, or looking for ppl carrying laptops or laptop shoulder bags INTO their car, then when the person parks and leaves the car with NO LAPTOP in hand, they then gank the laptop...

When a device is powered off, there is no electro magnetic frequency being generated. Only the CMOS battery... but that signal is so weak, that even the sun's rays and Over the Air radio frequencies will kill the EMF coming frmo the CMOS battery.

Fire flames at will!

cheers!

Does engadget now send me a prize for answering the million dollar question!?

hehe

=)

[joe @ Sep 15th 2006 2:39AM]

yea..i agree with the last comment...its a simple but painfully boring job of waiting outside a carpark.. look around for some dude walking in with their laptop...or walking out of car to put their laptop in the trunk... and bust into the car while they are away.. simple.. there's no rocket science in it. just patience..

[David Counter @ Sep 20th 2006 8:58PM]

There is no way in that a laptop can be detected using any type of device unless the laptop is switched on. I suggest that the police are stumped for an idea, so made this fanciful tale up. I'd be more inclined that these theives watch and follow people who have laptops with them.