East Bay gangsters are stealing automobiles in droves, because of a authorized gadget anybody should purchase

OAKLAND — Within only one hour, the identical group of thieves pulled up in a stolen black Dodge Durango to 2 completely different shops right here, smashed by the entrance, and unloaded 1000’s of {dollars} in money, lottery tickets, cigar wraps and different merchandise earlier than making a getaway.

By November, police had recognized and arrested simply one of many 4 masked suspects within the September break-ins. But once they raided his Fremont residence, they discovered proof of extra crimes: Dodge key fobs and a easy key reprogrammer equipment that’s the main instrument of the commerce for automotive thieves throughout the state, in line with court docket information.

Key reprogrammers may be hooked into plugs behind panels of contemporary automobiles — from the costly and classy to clunkers — and are used to help house owners who’ve misplaced their keys. But the expertise is ripe for misuse, in line with police. Anyone should purchase them on-line, and a knowledgable thief can use them to start out and steal a automotive in about 30 seconds, authorities say.

The suspect within the two Oakland retailer break-ins, recognized in court docket information as 18-year-old Raul Chapina-Gonzalez, has been charged with second-degree theft, housebreaking and vandalism within the Sept. 2 spree. But now East Bay police are additionally investigating Chapina-Gonzalez and others for alleged involvement in a big auto theft ring focusing on high-end automobiles for resale. At the time of his arrest, Chapina-Gonzalez was out of jail in a case involving allegations he stored a gun and medicines in the identical room as a younger youngster in his Fremont house, court docket information present.

Authorities say they’ve discovered Instagram posts the place Chapina-Gonzalez posted lists of stolen autos on the market, and that similar lists have been posted on different accounts. He additionally bragged about getting wealthy off “strikes,” a slang time period for stolen automobiles, in line with police. Another account that posted the similar stolen automotive checklist additionally posted an image of a number of firearms subsequent to an Autel key reprogrammer typical of these utilized in automotive thefts, and inquired for assist finding somebody who might swap VINs on a stolen Lexus, authorities mentioned. Thus far, no expenses have been filed.

Key reprogrammers, mixed with different tips of the automotive theft commerce, could make re-sale comparatively straightforward. If somebody has entry to a VIN-switching and crooked third social gathering re-registration service — generally supplied by local chop shop owners — they will re-register a automobile, checklist it on third-party on-line markets and promote it to an unwitting particular person earlier than the police get clever to the scenario.

Generally, the California Highway Patrol recommends drivers ask their automotive producers for “model-specific guidance” on how you can block the entry level that key re-programmers use, which is an onboard diagnostic port, generally referred to as an OBD II and usually accessible below a entrance seat panel that has been mandated for passenger automobiles since 1996. Some locks or kill switches may be purchased and put in aftermarket, however the worth varies. Other prevention suggestions are extra rudimentary, comparable to holding automobiles parked behind residence gates or utilizing a membership gadget to lock the steering wheel.

But a change may be on the horizon. In January, a brand new regulation — AB 486 — will classify key reprogrammers as a possible housebreaking instrument alongside shaved keys and different such gadgets, and may make their possession a misdemeanor below state regulation.

In this case, the auto theft ring seems to be the work of the Baine Gang, a Newark-based Norteño subset whose members have been linked to a number of automotive theft rings over time, together with a 2022 multi-million greenback theft ring that concerned using a chop store, and a nonfatal taking pictures in San Pablo that resulted from a automotive proprietor confronting thieves, in line with court docket information.

In 2023, Chapina-Gonzalez, then a juvenile, was certainly one of a number of folks investigated in a suspected carjacking crew whose members shot a girl within the leg throughout one theft, with a gun that was later used to kill a person in El Cerrito, authorities mentioned.

More current occasions occasions linked to the gang embrace a number of cases in Union City, together with one on Sept. 18, the place three suspected members of the automotive theft ring stole a Lexus with a key reprogrammer. Six days later, three to 4 suspects stole a Chevrolet Camaro and threatened the proprietor with weapons when he got here outdoors to confront them. Two days after that, a stolen Dodge Charger crashed at a visitors gentle, and the suspect fled. The driver of the opposite automobile was hospitalized, authorities mentioned.

Last 12 months, Alameda County ranked second to solely Los Angeles County in reported auto thefts, although the quantity, roughly 19,000, was nearly a 3rd of what Los Angeles reported. Last 12 months, 176,230 automobiles have been stolen throughout the state, in line with the CHP, however the model predictability could give most automotive house owners some peace of thoughts.

A report issued by the CHP this 12 months tracks the highest 10 most stolen manufacturers of cars and vehicles/SUVs. On both lists, all manufacturers besides one have been both a Hyundai, a Kia, or a Chevrolet.