Mouse jacking is on the rise in France

Car thefts using the “mouse jacking” method now account for 70% of fraudulent car thefts in France. The phenomenon is spreading rapidly, prompting the police to raise the alarm. It’s clear that thieves’ investments in electronic devices are profitable, leading them to continually expand their operations. Meanwhile, insurance companies are struggling to reimburse all those affected by this type of theft.

Several “mouse jacking” thefts in the north Contrary to expectations, the integration of various electronic components in cars has enabled thieves and organized gangs to use a new theft technique. It’s simple: hacking into a vehicle’s data is all it takes to gain entry. In the Nord department, the police recommend using mechanical anti-theft devices such as steering wheel locks. This method is considered outdated, but it remains the most effective. Thieves are primarily targeting high-powered vehicles in the North. For example, in a single night in October, five cars were stolen: a Mégane, an Audi 3 Sportback, and a C3. The most alarming aspect is that in all cases, there were no visible signs of forced entry, making the police investigation even more difficult. Owners only realize the theft the following morning. Cases reported in southern Oise

In the South, French brands such as Renault, Peugeot, and Citroën are particularly targeted. In October alone, 60 cars were stolen. Half of them were located in the areas of Senlis, Le Plessis-Belleville, Verberie, and Pont-Sainte-Maxence. It is often the most modern vehicles, equipped with key fobs, that are targeted.

Most of the time, the car bodies are found stripped and burned. This suggests that the thieves are primarily interested in selling spare parts. They don’t travel far for this, selling their wares within the department and sometimes in the Île-de-France region. Surprisingly, the police also recommend using steering wheel locks: a restrictive but effective method. There are other, slightly more expensive options, such as using a tracker to geolocate your vehicle in case of theft.

The “mouse jacking” issue and insurance problems: The most common scenario is that owners struggle to convince their insurance company of theft since there were no signs of forced entry. And most of the time, insurance companies refuse to provide compensation because they don’t recognize electronic theft and therefore don’t reimburse the victims.

The recommended course of action in this case is to call in an expert to officially recognize the theft. However, the Versailles Court of Appeal’s ruling no. 15-09035 of November 2, 2017, proposes to establish a precedent on this matter. The judge thus considers the insurer obligated to cover theft even if the break-in is not apparent.