Gone in 30 seconds: East Bay thieves are stealing cars with ease, thanks to a legal gadget anyone can buy

East Bay Thieves Use Easy-To-Buy Tool to Steal Cars in Record Time, Leaving Authorities Baffled.

In a bizarre string of car thefts across the East Bay region of California, thieves have been using a simple gadget that can be purchased online - a key reprogrammer kit - to break into and steal vehicles in as little as 30 seconds.

The devices, which are typically used by car owners to replace lost or broken keys, can be hooked into modern cars' onboard diagnostic ports and reprogrammed to create new keys. However, according to police, the technology is ripe for misuse, and a knowledgeable thief can use it to start and steal a car in mere minutes.

The latest break-in occurred at two different stores in Oakland, where thieves smashed through the front of each store and made off with thousands of dollars' worth of cash, lottery tickets, and other merchandise. In one of the stores, authorities found evidence of more crimes, including Dodge key fobs and a key reprogrammer kit.

The suspect, 18-year-old Raul Chapina-Gonzalez, has been charged with second-degree robbery, burglary, and vandalism in connection with the September break-ins. However, police are now also investigating him and others for alleged involvement in a large auto theft ring targeting high-end cars for resale.

According to authorities, Chapina-Gonzalez posted lists of stolen vehicles on his Instagram account, as well as pictures of firearms and messages asking for help locating someone who could switch VINs on a stolen car. This is just one example of how thieves are using social media platforms to advertise their crimes.

The use of key reprogrammer kits has made car theft relatively easy, with thieves able to sell stolen vehicles online to unwitting buyers before the police get wise to the situation. However, experts warn that this can be prevented by taking simple precautions such as asking car manufacturers for model-specific guidance on how to block access to key reprogrammers, or installing aftermarket locks or kill switches.

A new law set to take effect in January aims to classify key reprogrammers as a potential burglary tool alongside shaved keys and other devices, making their possession a misdemeanor under state law. However, authorities say that more needs to be done to combat the rise of car theft rings and protect vehicle owners from these brazen thieves.

I don’t usually comment but I feel like this is just wild . These key reprogrammer kits are like something out of a movie where the bad guy just walks into the store, buys it online, and voila! they can steal cars in under 30 seconds . It's crazy how tech has been used for good but also for evil, you know? The fact that someone is using social media to advertise stolen vehicles and ask for help to switch VINs on them is just mind-blowing . And the part where they're selling these cars online to unsuspecting buyers before police even get a chance to crack down on it is like, how do you catch people who are already selling them?

Ugh, car thieves are getting so smart with this key reprogrammer kit thingy they can break into cars in like 30 seconds! I mean, what's next? They're already using Instagram to advertise their stolen cars and stuff... it's crazy how technology is being used for evil purposes . But I guess that's why we need those new laws to be implemented ASAP , so car owners can finally feel safe again. I'm all about supporting law enforcement and finding ways to stop these thieves from getting away with it . I mean, who needs their car stolen, right? Not me, that's for sure .

Ugh, can't believe those thieves in Oakland ! I mean, using key reprogrammer kits to steal cars is just so lazy... like, who even buys that stuff online? And then they're selling the stolen cars on Instagram? That's just low . The police need to step up their game and crack down on these auto theft rings ASAP .

I don't get why people can't just take basic precautions, like installing aftermarket locks or kill switches... it's not that hard . And the fact that they're using social media platforms to advertise their crimes is just gross . Can't we all just look out for each other and keep our stuff safe?

The new law aiming to classify key reprogrammers as a potential burglary tool is a good start, but I think more needs to be done... like, stricter penalties or something . We need to make it clear that stealing cars isn't tolerated in our community .

Ugh man I'm so sick of these car thieves rn... 30 seconds? That's crazy! They're just taking advantage of people who don't know any better... I mean, come on, folks! Use a key fob and keep it safe . The thing is, I feel for the innocent victims who have their cars stolen and sold online without knowing what's going on. It's like, how are they supposed to even report it?

And can we talk about Raul Chapina-Gonzalez for a sec? 18 years old and already in big trouble . That's just not cool. I mean, I know he's not the first person to get into this stuff, but come on, young people! Make better choices.

I'm all for the new law that's supposed to be passed soon ... maybe it'll help keep these key reprogrammer kits out of the wrong hands. But honestly? I think we need more than just a law. We need education and awareness. People need to know how to protect themselves and their vehicles .

Anyway, just my two cents on this whole car theft thing ... it's wild and frustrating at the same time.

OMG you guys I am literally FURIOUS about this ! These East Bay thieves are using key reprogrammer kits like they're playing with Legos or something and it's just so frustrating. Like, I get that the tech is available online but come on people use your brains! They know full well what this device can do and yet they go ahead and steal cars left and right. And then they have the nerve to post about their crimes on Instagram . It's like, hello do you not care about the law?!

And don't even get me started on how easy it is for them to sell these stolen vehicles online without anyone batting an eye. Like, what's wrong with people today? Can't we just take a few seconds to verify if someone is buying a car from us or not?!

I mean I know the law is trying to classify key reprogrammers as a potential burglary tool and all but it's like, not enough. We need more strict penalties for these thieves and some serious education on how to protect ourselves and our vehicles. Like, we can't just sit around waiting for someone else to fix this problem. It's time for us to take action!

Ugh, who hasn't seen this coming? I mean, it's not like key reprogrammer kits haven't been available for ages, but now that they're being used to steal cars in under 30 seconds, suddenly it's "bizarre" and the authorities are all like "we're baffled". Give me a break. And of course, the thieves are using social media to advertise their crimes... because that's not a recipe for disaster at all . I do hope they get caught, but honestly, it's just another case of thieves taking advantage of something that can be easily obtained online. Can't we just get some decent cybersecurity measures in place already?

I'm telling ya, this is getting crazy! They're literally buying these key reprogrammer kits online like they're at the hardware store. I mean, come on, can't they think of a way to make it harder for people to steal cars? It's not like it's rocket science! And now they're selling these stolen cars online like they're hotcakes . I'm all for keeping an eye on prices and reporting any suspicious activity, but what about actually doing something about it? We need better security measures in place, stat!

OMG, I'm literally so frustrated about this ! These young thieves are so lucky they get caught already . I mean, how hard is it to figure out that something that's easily bought online can be used for super bad stuff? It's just common sense, right? And now they're selling the stolen cars online like it's no big deal . The authorities are doing their best but it's clear we need to step up our game. I'm all for the new law but it's just a Band-Aid solution . We need to educate people about car security and prevent these thefts from happening in the first place . And can we please get some more resources allocated to solve these crimes already? It's just not fair to the victims .

I think this is getting crazy out there! I mean, 30 seconds is insane! They're basically buying a toy online and using it to steal cars like they're going out of style. It's not just the theft itself that's the problem, but how easy it is for them to sell those cars online without anyone knowing until it's too late. And on top of that, they're using social media to advertise their crimes? That's just reckless. I don't think a new law can fix this on its own, though - we need better ways to prevent these thefts in the first place, like car manufacturers being more proactive about blocking access to key reprogrammers or something. It's time for them to step up and help us protect our vehicles.

I'm so worried about all these car thefts going on in the East Bay . It's crazy that thieves can just buy a key reprogrammer kit online and steal cars in like 30 seconds . I mean, I get it, technology is advancing fast and all that, but shouldn't there be some safeguards in place to prevent this?

It's even more concerning when you think about the suspects using social media platforms to advertise their crimes . And then they sell the stolen vehicles online to unsuspecting buyers before the police can catch up... it's like, where's the accountability?

I do think some of these experts have a point though, like asking car manufacturers for guidance on how to block access to key reprogrammers or installing aftermarket locks. That could be a start . But we need more comprehensive solutions to deal with this rising trend of car theft rings .

And I'm all for the new law aiming to classify key reprogrammers as a potential burglary tool... about time ! We can't keep up with the thieves, but maybe we can start to catch up by being more vigilant and taking these simple precautions .

Ugh theyre just making it so easy for them 2 steal cars in like 30 secs lol how did they come up w/ this tech? anyway, got 2 say, its super annoying 4 people whos property gets stolen cuz of some 1s "creativity" i was thinkin we cud do more 2 prevent these auto theft rings from poppin up in the first place

omg I'm so tired of this thing ... like how can we not have thought of this before? Key reprogrammer kits are literally for car owners, not thieves! It's just another way for people to think they're clever and get away with stuff. And now there's a whole auto theft ring going on and social media is being used to sell stolen cars... it's like we're living in some kind of movie . I guess what really gets me is that people are trying to use law to stop this, but like, how do you prevent something that can be bought online? It just feels like a never-ending cycle of tech vs thieves.

Umm so like what's going on with these key reprogrammer kits? Can we really just buy them online and use them to steal cars? It's crazy that people are using social media to advertise their stolen cars and sell them online before the cops even know what's happening. I mean, how do you even get away with something like that? I feel bad for all those car owners who have had their stuff stolen... and now they gotta deal with the hassle of trying to get it back? Can we just make these kits harder to use or something? Like, maybe add a special code to them or something?