What Toyota Imports Are Being Targeted By Thieves ?

An immobiliser is not a standard piece of equipment on cars in Japan. This is because there is very little car crime there. Without an immobiliser a car can be hot wired. If your Prius has an immobiliser you will usually see a red flashing light somewhere in the car when the immobiliser is active.

>However, they advised anyone who owns a Japanese import to consider fitting old-style steering wheel locks to secure their vehicles. 

very bad advice - I had a steering lock on my old car and it was removed - steering lock also broken - it just takes a heavy hand to break them...

Only thing that saved my car from being taken was the old school Two immobilisers that were on it - (one rfid built into the key - and one from the ancient alarm being on)

They are not being stolen for commercial gain, just for joyriding because the level of knowledge and tools required would fit inside your jeans pocket. Even if you fit an immobiliser the fact that it has the square rear plate and other differences identifying it a mile off as an import will make it a constant target for being robbed. If I had one myself I would fit a full wheel lock and good alarm as a deterrent.

To rid the country of the problem the NCT should be changed so that all these vehicles require an immobiliser to be fitted before they can be given the first NCT, that would kill off the problem over a short span of time. That or insurance companies not offer cover unless an immobiliser installed.

No insurance company with any sense of responsibility to their shareholders or the safety of other motorists on the road should be.

If the nct required import vehicles to be modified to have immobilisers, the whole jap import market would collapse overnight.

The other thing is that retrofitting an immobiliser is not like it used to be. It used to be just some intercept on an ignition or starter circuit. Integrating an immobiliser into a modern software driven car with multiple networked controller modules is likely to be either a) impossible outright, b) practically impossible to achieve for the average mechanic or auto electrician or main dealer c) prohibitively expensive if the particular expertise can be found, or c) if it were achieved, it could lead to all sorts of bizzare corruptions and ongoing bugs with the electronics of the car, which often are intractable or very difficult to impossible to fix.

All that were imported and identifiable as such is the simple answer. If the 4th generation Prius (what you have) came with an immoboliser as standard and thieves know this it may not be a target, if some of them did and some didn't it will be a target. Generally the thieves see the square plate on the back and assume no immobiliser and will try. The usual method to gain access is to either bend back the top of the drivers door to open it or to put a screwdriver in to the lock and disable it. A good visible steering lock/chain and alarm might deter best.

Here's a prime example of what's going on, a Vitz (Jap Yaris) attempted to be stolen multiple times...

The ones they’re after is the Aqua and Vitz, specifically the ones that don’t have keyless entry/keyless start.

it’s as simple as grabbing the lock with a vise-grip and breaking it off. Then manually turning the ignition switch.

I think some Mazda Demios (Mazda2 JDM model) are similarly easy to steal too.

These shouldn’t really be sold here without this basic piece of equipment. You’ll often know from looking at the keys that they don’t have an immobiliser chip.

Far as I know all Prius models have keyless start (?) so probably wouldn’t be targeted

I think everything sold new here since 1996 has an immobiliser.

All of the ‘German’ Jap imports have a factory alarm & immobiliser fitted

I was wondering when this resurrection of larger scale 2nd hand Japanese imports would start going pete tong.

Its a perfect storm of....

1) Brexit reducing the amount of Uk imports.

2) supply issues on new cars reducing the amount of trade ins that would normally go to the used car market.

The problem also is that sellers are just getting into them as a source of supply for today.

Rather then actually specialising in JDM imports for the long haul and getting the back up correct.

Big name dealers at it too

Some cars give errors if battery has been disconnected for a while. Things like ABS lights may stay on and only go off after the second time starting with the battery reconnected. For the first trip the abs may be disabled.

A simple isolation switch with a plastic key removed from the vehicle may add a simple extra step from a common thief. I would not rely on it alone.

Yes’m the guys stealing these are bottom level amateurs for joyriding

All cars sold in the EU since 1996 are required to have an immobilizer.

No such regulations in Japan.

Any Japanese second hand import is unlikely to have an immobilizer.

Not really true. There are only a handful of Jap imports without immobilisers

There is a Toyota aqua in or household fresh import has keyless entry with push button start and it does have a factory fitted immobiliser and an alarm system. It seems to be the lower grade models with a standard key ignition that have no immobiliser. I remember the dealer pointing this fact out when we were looking at his available Toyota aquas stock, he advised if buying the lower grades standard key start model bring it to get a security system fitted asap. If in doubt get it checked out and have a good quality alarm and immobiliser fitted budget €500 into your costs. Beats having your new purchase taken.

I understand what you are saying, but disagree, they only target what they think they can take

Even a steering wheel lock would put them off and is easier and cheaper

i'd prefer them to not being doing the few hundred in damage before they realize it won't start, there's no winning in that happening

cars involved in Cherry orchard joyriding incidents are surprise surprise japanese imports , we are going to go back to the joyriding epidemic of the 80s and 90s again

Both were Toyota Aqua models.

Joyriding epidemic might be a bit strong though. I think it is a general law and order issue.

Many steering locks can be opened with a nail scissors. Sometimes they cut the steering wheel to get the lock off.

A disable switch is simple and has prevented many thefts. Main downside is you need to switch it each time leaving car unless you get more advanced auto set option.