“Swift Heist: The Shocking Theft of a Hyundai Ioniq 5 in Just 20 Seconds! Unraveling the Game Boy Gadget Mystery Behind the Break-in”

MUST SET VIDEO 3297393 LIVE AND ADD IT INTO ARTICLE AS FEATURE VID

This is the alarming moment two audacious criminals steal a high-value Hyundai automobile in just minutes while the unsuspecting owner and his small family remain inside their residence.

The pair, clad in dark attire, are observed casually approaching Mikail’s car in south London on the night of October 19.

As depicted in the disturbing CCTV footage, the miscreants make their way to his keyless vehicle and smoothly unlock it using an unidentified instrument in no time at all.

This incident comes amid recent reports indicating that thieves are utilizing Game Boy-like devices to steal Ioniq 5 cars, with prices ranging from £39,900 to £60,000 when brand new.

Originating from South Korea, where the car manufacturer’s headquarters are found, these gadgets are utilized to gain access to the vehicle without damaging the locks or windows.

By employing a device worth £20,000, thieves can imitate a car’s legitimate key fob by scanning data from the vehicles’ ‘proximity system’.

Activating the ‘proximity system’ only requires pressing a button on the car’s door, allowing vehicles to be stolen within minutes.

Although the 33-year-old father managed to locate his car thanks to AirTags he had installed, the incident has profoundly affected his wife and young children.

Peter Cassizzi’s Hyundai Ioniq 5 (Pictured) was taken from his residence in north London on October 30, 2024, and subsequently abandoned a 41-minute drive away in Ilford

Mikail, who resides in southwest London, had been at home with his spouse and children for 15 minutes when bold criminals stole his Ioniq 5 (Pictured)

He communicated to MailOnline: ‘I was seated on the stairs awaiting my child, then I received the notification on my phone. I peered out the window and the car was gone.

‘Upon reviewing the CCTV footage, one can see they never approached my front door.

‘They merely utilize that device to press the button on the door handle, and it simply unlocked for them. It’s unbelievable’

He further stated: ‘My children were anxious following the car theft.

‘They were posing questions to my wife such as “If they stole the car, what if they invade the house?”

‘Clearly, my wife is trying to assure them, “Don’t fret, daddy’s here to protect you, and that’s not going to happen”, and so forth.’

‘However, it’s concerning to witness them grow up needing to see me installing additional security on the car due to the presence of thieves.

The attempted vehicle theft is one reason why Mikail has decided that he and his family will relocate abroad permanently.

‘They’re growing up with this [the theft] embedded in their minds, cultivating a sense of paranoia that necessitates taking precautions because someone might take from you.’

Fortunately, the father was able to recover the car from a nearby location in Streatham, thanks to the air-tags he had set up in the vehicle.

However, he firmly believes that without these, his car would have been irretrievably lost.

‘My trust in the authorities waned long ago.

ago,’ he remarked: ‘I realize if I hadn’t placed the air tags in the vehicle, my car would likely be overseas or at a chop shop, or perhaps still in Streatham right at this moment.’

After pinpointing the location of the automobile, he proceeded to retrieve it with three relatives, following the guidance of the Metropolitan Police force.

‘My spouse was reluctant for me to go, because obviously these are criminals,’ he stated: ‘You can never be certain of their behavior.’

‘They might be aggressive, but the truth is the authorities are the ones insisting, ‘It’s your car, go and reclaim it!’.’

Upon his arrival, there was only minimal cosmetic harm to the automobile, and very little additional mileage on the odometer.

‘I could tell by the odometer reading and the battery life that it was likely driven straight from there to here. They hadn’t taken it for a joyride or anything.’

Yet, despite having retrieved the automobile, the effects and annoyance from the attempted theft lingered as Mikail felt there was minimal assistance from Hyundai or the Metropolitan Police.

‘I reached out to Hyundai, I contacted the dealership, and it appeared no one genuinely cared,’ he expressed.

‘It becomes the customer’s responsibility to invest in additional items like a steering wheel lock, or a ghost immobiliser.’

‘Why not [Hyundai] ensure the vehicles are safe and sound from the outset, and at least recognize these shortcomings and improve.’

The cybersecurity specialist added: ‘Anything can be made secure. The real question is whether you’ve dedicated the time and resources to genuinely enhance security.’

The theft, which took place on October 19, has affected his whole family, leaving his children concerned that the vandals might break into their home

The thieves took his vehicle and drove it just ten minutes away to nearby Streatham, from where Mikail later managed to recover it

Had the family man not managed to find his vehicle – thanks to air tags – he would have faced a potential six-figure bill from the leasing company for the car

After recovering the automobile, Mikail stated his case was closed and no further action was taken to apprehend the culprits who also stole his children’s bank cards.

The audacious thieves had also tried to make purchases at a pizza shop and a Tesco in Dulwich using the cards.

‘There has been absolutely no deterrent for the thieves now. They’ve taken a vehicle – it’s a significant issue,’ he noted.

The family man asserted that if he had not recovered his automobile – it would have led to financial disaster.

He clarified that he would have to cover the difference between the leasing company’s and insurer’s assessments of the car’s value – which might have been around the six-figure range.

‘In this scenario, I would have needed to pay roughly £10,000 to meet the leasing company’s valuation of the vehicle,’ he stated.

‘I don’t even have that much money; I wouldn’t have been able to manage.’

Nevertheless, Mikail is not alone as a victim of keyless car thefts, as Peter Cassizzi also had his Ioniq 5 taken from his driveway in a quiet northern London neighborhood last year.

Despite having reclaimed the vehicle, the impact and frustration of the attempted theft persisted as Mikail felt he received minimal support from Hyundai or the Metropolitan Police

When Mikail recovered the vehicle, it had very minimal cosmetic damage (Pictured), and very little mileage was added to the odometer

The criminals had also taken Mikail’s children’s  debit cards from the vehicle and tried to use them at a pizza restaurant and a Tesco in Dulwich

Peter Cassizzi anticipated entering his Hyundai Ioniq 5 and headingto start his day when he arose on October 30, 2023. 

However, as he glanced outside at his driveway, he was unpleasantly surprised to find an unoccupied parking space. 

Alarmed by the disappearance of his £50,000 automobile, the 48-year-old swiftly accessed his car’s tracking device to locate it. 

After tracking it down to Ilford – a 41-minute journey from the charming London suburb of Hampstead – he notified the authorities of the theft, who, according to him, suggested he go and claim the vehicle himself. 

With no indicators of forced entry into his Ioniq 5, Peter is convinced that hooligans utilized hacking tools to infiltrate his high-value automobile and sped off with it. 

Expressing his discontent, he shared with MailOnline: ‘It was significantly simpler to steal my car than it would have been to swipe my bike. 

‘When you dedicate nearly £60,000 to a vehicle, you don’t expect that someone could merely use a gadget to click it open and drive away.’

‘You don’t imagine waking up at 7:30 in the morning to find your car vanished.’

Adam Metselaar was left enraged after his vehicle was nabbed by thugs – despite having both sets of keys safely tucked away in his home in a separate incident in April

The new theft tactic has been on the rise in the UK after making its way to the US from South Korea (Pictured: Thieves stealing Mr Metselaar’s car)

He remarked: ‘This is a peaceful neighborhood. There are literally signs indicating elderly individuals walking in a red triangle.’

‘Such incidents occur in urban areas, but I think the aggravating aspect is that once you ponder it again, you start to understand that it’s perhaps not merely a coincidence,’ Mr Cassizzi further stated. 

With the Metropolitan Police proving to be of little help, Mr Cassizzi was eager to find out more about his newly acquired car and was determined not to let the issue – like his vehicle – fade away into silence. 

Following the police’s suggestion, he and his partner requested an Uber and explained to the driver that hooligans had stolen the automobile, cautioning him about the potentially hazardous situation that might lie ahead. 

Reflecting on the stressful, 41-minute journey, Mr Cassizzi said: ‘I concentrated on preventing us from being exposed to any additional unnecessary danger.’

Upon reaching the abandoned warehouse, they discovered the 48-year-old’s keyless car, showing minor exterior damage as one of the wheels was slightly scraped. 

After inspecting the vehicle, the lawyer confirmed it was operational and informed the authorities before taking it back home. 

It comes as a new emerged for keyless car owners after a gang of thieves used a Game Boy-style device to steal a £47,000 Hyundai Ioniq 5 in less than a minute (Pictured: Hyundai Ioniq 5)

Thieves are now using hi-tech ’emulator(s)’ tucked away in Game Boy style devices to unlock keyless cars (Stock image: A Game Boy)

‘It’s disproportionately afflicting these Korean automobiles.’

‘I was wary of being stopped on the journey back and them assuming I was the burglar, so we lingered for a while before deciding to leave,’ he explained. 

Nevertheless, Mr Cassizzi’s challenges with his vehicle didn’t cease there, as he found that the offenders had attempted to tear out parts of the vehicle’s interior in a failed effort to disconnect the GPS unit – damage that ultimately would exceed £10,000. 

Moreover, the car sat untouched in a lot for half a year, awaiting specific Hyundai-manufactured components to prevent the warranty from becoming void.

He remarked: ‘I don’t rely on a car for work, so for me it’s more of a convenience outside of my job, and I can manage without that convenience. 

‘Yet I had chosen to pay for that convenience, and I wasn’t truly receiving the value for my money.’

After a distinct incident involving a drunk driver, Mr Cassizzi had to declare his new vehicle a total loss as insurance companies were unwilling to wait an additional six months for his car to remain on hold for parts. 

While addressing his frustration concerning the recent surge in keyless car thievery – many of which were Hyundais – he stated: ‘They ought to initiate some sort of recall for a software correction or something.

Pictured: Members of a keyless car theft gang who stole £2m worth of vehicles over four

Years have been imprisoned for almost a decade collectively.

CCTV showing the gang thieving a vehicle with the concealed apparatus

‘Why are they unable to issue a general alert to current owners and inform prospective buyers?

‘They ought to state, ‘You need to take steps to safeguard your vehicle. Acquire a steering wheel lock. These measures could deter your car from becoming a target for this type of crime.’

‘However, they do not, and ultimately, it comes at the expense of consumers.

He added, ‘I am astonished that there’s not more serious governmental concern regarding this matter, as it significantly impacts the finances of many constituents in this nation.’

‘Rising rates of auto theft will also contribute to a sense of insecurity within communities.’

Mr. Cassizzi mentioned he is part of a group chat comprising eight to nine Hyundai owners from North London who have all fallen prey to car thefts employing similar methods.

He also reported that a resident nearby in the quiet North London neighborhood, who owned an Ioniq 5, had also been victimized by thieves as early as September.

A Hyundai representative stated, ‘Car theft employing digital technology has recently become a major focus for organized criminal groups in the UK that have acquired devices to unlawfully bypass smart key locking mechanisms. This is an issue that affects the entire industry.’

‘In the immediate term, Hyundai, in collaboration with other automotive manufacturers, has been actively engaging with law enforcement to gain insights into the circumstances and devices utilized, as well as to assist in tracking vehicles for prompt recovery.

‘All our vehicles include immobilizers as standard and comply with all essential security regulations required for vehicles sold in the UK.

‘Moreover, as part of our ongoing product enhancement strategy, we have been diligently developing updates aimed at significantly lowering the risk associated with these specific ‘keyless theft’ methods.

‘As a result, Hyundai vehicles introduced to the market in February 2024 or later have all been equipped with the latest hardware and software technology updates to address the ongoing risk.

‘For Ioniq 5 vehicles released in the UK market before that date, we are also taking steps to offer existing customers the option of a retroactive action.’

A representative from the Metropolitan Police remarked: ‘The Met acknowledges the considerable effects that automobile crime can have on victims, particularly those who depend on vehicles for employment or daily life routines.

‘Any reported crime allegations will be evaluated by the police to determine if there are feasible lines of inquiry, including forensic opportunities that can be pursued.

‘There are numerous strategies that vehicle owners can adopt to ensure their vehicles and belongings remain secure, such as fitting a steering lock which serves as a visible deterrent, and storing electronic car keys in a signal-blocking pouch when not in use.

‘Here’s what you can do to assist in ensuring your vehicle’s safety: Always leave your vehicle locked and secured. Many modern vehicles fold their mirrors in when locked, making it easy for thieves to identify when a vehicle is unlocked.

‘Take valuables with you whenever you exit the vehicle. Consider investing in steering wheel locks, pedal locks, immobilizers, and tracking systems.

A gang of vehicle thieves employed a £20,000 device (shown) resembling a Nintendo Gameboy to steal multiple cars in Leeds – but were apprehended after inadvertently recording one of the thefts.

‘Key fob protectors (Faraday bags) assist in preventing keyless car thefts. Consider installing driveway barriers.’

Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director at The Motor Ombudsman, stated: ‘With the motor sector being self-regulated through The Motor Ombudsman’s Chartered Trading Standards Institute-approved Motor Industry Codes of Practice,

‘The Motor Ombudsman’s long-standing New Car Code, adhered to by 46 different car manufacturers covering 98 percent of new vehicles sold in the UK, mandates that new cars supplied to retailers must be built to a high-quality standard that meets customer expectations.

‘While vehicle manufacturers persist in investing in security system advancements to provide a high level of security, technological innovations alone cannot prevent all theft – particularly with the frequently sophisticated techniques employed by organized crime gangs behind numerous keyless thefts.

‘The industry also continues to collaborate closely with police forces, the insurance sector, and other security stakeholders to combat vehicle crime and to help reduce the incidence of vehicle theft.’

Bill further added: ‘In cases where a consumer has lodged a complaint about software being compromised to facilitate entry into a vehicle, and its subsequent theft, The Motor Ombudsman can examine instances where a consumer believes that the security systems implemented in the vehicle did not meet satisfactory quality from their viewpoint.

‘As The Motor Ombudsman operates as a fully independent and impartial organization, any related evidence submitted by consumers and businesses for their respective cases is considered equally in order to reach a resolution in response to a specific complaint.’

It is understood that The Motor Ombudsman cannot investigate any criminal offenses that have transpired or thefts themselves.