AboutRob Painter, ASE, CFL, CFEI Expertise My background in auto theft is extensive. I have been directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft recovered vehicles. I also do insurance investigation as to how a vehicle was last operated. My clients are insurance companies and attorneys. Was featured in the A & E auto theft documentary "Stealing Wheels" July 26, 2000. Has consulted with Daimler Chrysler steering column engineers to make their steering columns harder to defeat. Holds patent # 6,039,140 for 8 different variations to protect air bags from theft.
Experience ROB PAINTER, ASE, CFL, CFEI
Forensic Vehicle Component Analyst
Diplomate, Board Certified Forensic Examiner
ASE Certified Auto, Collision, Med/Hvy/Duty Truck Technician
Certified Forensic Locksmith
Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator
Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator
Certified Forensic Auto Theft Examiner
Certified Auto Theft and Fraud Expert
http://www.autotheftexpert.com
Email-rpainter@wi.rr.com
P.O. Box 190
Big Bend, WI 53103
Phone (414) 698-9696
Fax (262) 662-1352
As per federal court rules of evidence (702) (Daubert) my testimony has qualified me as:
Auto Theft and Fraud Expert
Forensic Vehicle Analyst
Fire Origin and Cause Expert
In the trial transcript of Holiday vs Progressive Insurance Company (March 12, 2002?Eugene, Oregon) with Holiday being my client-named ?the expert for experts.?
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Founder of the ?Forensic Institute of Auto Theft Analysis? (January 2002). This is the training school that will set the standards in determining the last operation of a reported stolen vehicle-burned or unburned. Much of my testing and procedures have been accepted as the guide for the forensic community.
1986 opened Auto Recovery Specialists Inc., providing exclusive repair of theft recovered and vandalized vehicles. The initial concept of the business was to return vehicles to their original shape before the theft, vandalism or fire. In 1987 bought the rights to the theft deterrent known as the ?Chicago Collar?.
Duties include complete component replacement: dash, stereo system, interior,
locks and coding, rebuilding steering columns, repairing and installing vehicle security system components (factory and after market), engine components, body repair, glass replacement, repair and service of air conditioning components, brake and suspension repair, and replacement, wiring harnesses etc. to return vehicle to pre-theft condition Complete reconstruction.
During the past 17 years directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft-recovered and fire damaged
Personally examined and rebuilt thousands of steering columns on both import and domestic vehicles
Internationally acknowledged as expert in auto theft including court, consulting with insurance companies, attorneys and law enforcement.
Consultant on steering columns, locks, stereo systems and vehicle security for Special Investigation Units for many large insurance carriers during the past eight years. Consulting services include but not limited to: How a vehicle was last operated (with or without keys in burned or unburned vehicles), Origin and Cause of vehicle fires, and vehicle defects.
Provides services as a consultant and researcher to attorneys and insurance companies, and private industry throughout the US in cases related to vehicles.
Has worked with crime prevention officers throughout the US establishing training programs designed to protect the public from becoming victims of auto theft.
PATENT: 3/21/00 issued patent# 6,039,140 for 8 different variations of airbag anti-theft devices.
PUBLICATIONS
Currently authors articles and test reports on an ongoing basis for SIUs and the forensic/vehicle fire industry.
Published author: (1,297 slide training course) Auto Theft/ Fraud Training Course) ?The Modern Forensic Approach to Auto Theft Investigation.? (January, 2001)
Author: ?Variables to Be Considered In Vehicle Fire Investigation after Suppression.? (Insurance publication-November 2001)
Author: ?Ford Magnesium Steering Columns and the Results to Ignition Components after a Fire?. Article for peer review from the fire and forensic community. (November 2001)
Author: ?The Truth About GM VATS.? (Article) (November 2001)
Author: ?The Truth About GM PASSLOCK TM? (Article) (November 2001)
Author:? Auto Theft Investigation: Hollywood vs. Reality? (Article) (February 2001) For the John Cooke Fraud Report.
Published author: (Manual) ?Forensic Vehicle Fire/ Arson and Auto Theft Investigation? (October 2000)
Published author: (Article) ?Petty Claims? for the John Cooke Fraud Report (October, 1998)
Published author (Manual) ?AUTO THEFT: LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN!? (1998) (Previously distributed by Barnes & Nobel)
Co-authored the investigation manual, ?Surreptitious Entry & Auto Theft & Burn & the Investigator.? (1999)
Authored test questions on the subject of steering columns and vehicle security for CFL designation to be given by the International Association of Investigative Locksmiths. January, 2000
Published author: (Manual) ?Saginaw Steering Columns-What Has Not Been Told? Training manual for fire investigators. (March 2000)
Published (Article) ?Beyond The Lock? (May 2000)
Published Author: (Article) Fraud Defense Network-August, 2000 Edition-?Melting Steering Column Tests.? http://www.fraudreport.com/index.cfm?month=08&year=2000
Published author: (Test Report) ?Burned Toyota Steering Column Testing to Determine How Last Operated?. Tool marks and procedures. (December 1999) Currently at the FBI Crime Lab in Washington DC and the US Army Crime Lab in Atlanta, GA for peer review.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Defeated the ?unstealable? Ford Securilock transponder system for a court case 10/10/00. They said it could not be done!
Primary designer of a state of the art ?bait? car for a police department to catch car thieves.
Worked with The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration and
discovered a potential fire hazard on a vehicle and determined origin and cause of under hood fires on this type of vehicle.
Featured as ?Auto Theft Expert? in the A & E auto theft documentary ?Stealing Wheels? that aired July 26, 2000.
Contacted by Sears and Edelman Marketing to be a national spokesman for an anti theft device for vehicles. (November 1999)
Invited to provide evaluation and consulting to steering column engineers at Daimler Chrysler Corporation in Auburn Hills, MI (10/19/99-10/22/99). The purpose of this project was to demonstrate how steering column locking mechanisms could be defeated without the use of a key and how to reinforce the columns against theft.
Court Qualified as an Auto Theft Expert and my videos of defeating columns were also accepted by a Cleveland, Ohio Court in October 1999 as a valid piece of evidence.
Contacted by Disney Touchstone Pictures for technical assistance in making the movie ?Gone in 60 Seconds? (March 1999)
CONSULTANT FOR FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS
? Former contributor for The Insurance News Network (Auto theft and prevention) includes heading a forum for the public on how to protect their vehicles for 3+ years.
? Former editor and consultant for the public on matters involving auto theft and prevention 2000-2001 on the web at http://www.autotheft_forum.com.
? The Insurance Career Center (Auto theft and fraud).
? National Association of Investigative Specialists (Auto theft and fraud)
? Expert Find (Auto theft and fraud}
TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE
? ASE (National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence) Certified in Auto: brakes, steering and suspension, engine repair, manual drive train and axles, air conditioning. Med/Heavy duty truck: gasoline engine repair, electrical/electronic components. Collision: elec.....
Question First of all I would like to thank you for all the time you have taken to help so many people on this site. Your
advice was extremely helpful when I decided to put an alarm system in my own vehicle a few months back.
Here is my question:
I own a 2007 Ford E-150. I generally carry 4-5,000 dollars worth of tools in the back. So when I purchased
this vehicle earlier this year, I wanted to secure it as best as possible. Let me run you through what I did.
- First I put up a cage that separates the cabin area and back area. An Adrian Steal type metal cage. It does
have a door for access to the back but I secured that with 2 very beefy Eye bolts and a combination padlock
form the cabin side.
-Next I mounted 1/2" plywood on the back windows (painted black so they really just look blacked out.
- I have automatic locks so I disasembled the manual locking mechanisms from both inside and out on the
rear doors and side cargo doors. (E150 are notoriously easy to break into through the back license plate
area) The only way in is with the keyless transponder. I also put large deadbolts on the INSIDE of the back
and side doors if I'm in a shady area or on vacation or whatever. I lock up, go through the cage and lock the
padlock.
Basically I've secured the cargo area as well as I can within reason. Yeah you could still get in but its no
longer a quick "pick and grab" or whatever. I'm not expecting to deter a pro, just the punks and addicts.
Either way it would be fairly difficult to get in. This leads me to the main question i wanted to ask you.
I had a Viper security system installed that has a 2 way transponder (pager) and remote start. I know you
suggested against the remote start but I was seduced by the idea of a warm van greeting me on cold winter
mornings. I believe the guy that installed the system is credible. He is certified, does alot of work for
carmax, and also did my fathers van. I am fairly certain he did a good job ( though I am no expert in this
field).
The car alarm will go off if bumped or hit too hard (2 stage shock sensor), or if any of the doors are
opened, because of the pins. I did notice however there is no pin in the hood area so if you were able to get
the hood open, you could cut the battery with no alarm whatsoever. My father told me it would be difficult
to get the hood open without actually pulling the lever inside of the van. He may be right, but you could in
theory break the window without the alarm going off, reach in and pull the lever, and then cut the battery,
or is this too much trouble for the average thief? So that is my first dilema. Is this really a problem? Shoud I
have a pin installed in the hood area or put on a hood lock? Maybe just get a backup battery for the alarm?
What do you think?
My second dilema is with the "valet" button. This particular model has the valet button and the led and 2
way transponder antenna all in one. It was mounted at the top center of my windshield for maximum 2 way
range. If you were to, say, lose your transponder, you can disable the alarm system by placing your key in
the ignition and turning while you press the valet button a specified number of times (thats the general idea
at least). This seams way too easy. I know you can overide the key with a screwdriver so in theory you
could break the window, turn the ignition with a screwdriver and press the button 1-5 times ( the owner
chooses the preset or number of times it must be pressed, mine was set to 1). Just seems too easy. I told
my father I wanted to hide this valet switch to add another level off difficulty. He said I should just leave it
alone, I'm overthinking it ( I probably am).
Lastly, I know you are big on the hidden kill switch and I think its a great idea. Is this something that I need
given the system I have ( it has starter disable and some form of a kill but it is all electronic I believe).
Would I still be wise to install something like this?
Like I said, I'm trying to prevent the amateur from stealing my tools or jacking my car, not necessarily the
pro. Of course a large heavy cargo van is probably not #1 on a thiefs list of cars to steal. Also, all my tools
are probably worth about 10% street value, So I don't think I'm a huge target. Still, I would like some piece
of mind knowing I did everything within reason to prevent something like this. I greatly appreciate any
advice you can give me. Thank you!
Joe
Answer Hello,
First don't fall into the thinking like many ignorant locksmith experts that work for insurance companies attempting to determine the last operation of a reported stolen vehicle. Unfortunately, many insurance investigators also generalize thieves and trying to determine what a specific thief wants.
This is a very big problem! Selected components missing like the seats and trim panels, but commonly assumed not stolen because other parts left behind.
Yes, you have the punks that attempt and were not successful and you have the pros that will do VIN switches, but the reality is that 90% of the thieves out there are somewhere in the middle.
Some vehicles are targeted and others are taken on opportunity.
I get a kick out of the work people go to to secure their cargo vans in NYC and Chicago. There is a huge lock and plate connecting both doors. Sounds secure doesn't it? Wrong!!!!
The one I am thinking of that we were following in NYC, my girlfriend made the comment "Boy is that secure." I pointed out that the hinge pins for the rear doors were mounted on the outside and could be removed in seconds with a hammer and punch. Pull back one door and your in.
It sounds like you attempted to address this issue with the inside gate. However, most padalocks no matter how big they are are not secure.
In fact, I had the opportunity to test locks from a well known lock manufacturer. I defeated these locks in less than 15 seconds with a hammer and screwdriver. Actually, I expected much better from this manufacturer, but like everyone else, it had the cheaply made lock cylinder.
Of course they wanted my endorsement, but I just could not do it and instead of making the product better, decided they did not want my unbiased opinion.
I understand your concerns, and I don't want to burst your bubble, but you have gone much farther than I would have. I am a realist and understand there is nothing made that will stop a determined thief.
My background is in the direct repair of more than 10,000 theft recoveries. I have seen a lot. Many very stupid things, like the goof that tried to steal a car with no engine!
I am concerned about you disconnecting the lock rods. If the vehicle starts on fire like many Ford trucks do because of their cruise control switch affecting millions on recall, you may not be able to unlock the door quick enough. If you are in a crash, you may not be able to unlock the door. For safety not security, please hook the locking mechanisms back up!
Now, I always recommended the dual stage shock sensor, because they may set the alarm off by breaking the glass. I said "may." The most vulnerable spot on the glass that many do not know is the edge of the glass. If a screwdriver is placed on an edge in the rubber weatherstrip, the glass will shatter and rarely is heard, and sometimes is not enough noise to set off the impact sensor. No one pays attention to sirens anymore.
You were wise to install a pager so you are notified. You cannot count on anyone else to watch your car.
The problem is with the pager, what are you prepared to do when confronting a thief? Don't count on the cops. Auto theft is a property crime and very low priority. In fact, many departments these days don't come out to the car and take the report over the phone.
In many states, you are not allowed to do anything to the thief or you can be charged and sued if you use a weapon. Check local and state laws.
We had customers wanting us to booby trap the car or parts. In Wisconsin, if I did this, it is a felony. The thief would get charged with a misdemeanor and if hurt, could sue me.
That's why they call it the criminal justice system. Its geared to protect the criminals.
Move the valet switch to a hidden location. With it exposed, your alarm install is worthless!!!
I don't care if the installer is certified 99% of these installers know nothing about theft methods. Most think you need a key to turn the ignition. Like you said, you could rotate this with a screwdriver.
Because of light weight and cost the engineers obviously had no idea of the fire attributes to the magnesium column in their trucks. If they burn and a firefighter hits the burning column with water, it will explode! Another problem with magnesium for this application is that it is very brittle. A screwdriver can be placed between the lock and housing, hit with a hammer and the ignition lock falls out!
The difference between me and a locksmith is that I think outside the box. They concentrate on the ignition lock and I look at the whole picture.
Another attribute to your truck is that you have Securilock which requires a programmed computer key.
Now, it is more important to know how the remote start was installed. Does it have a module which serves as a third programmed key?
Or does it have a key box in wjich a programmed and possibly cut key is in the box?
Here are some issues. I have no problem with a module that only operates the engine in remote start mode. Where I have a problem is with the plastic key box. Easily found and broken into, the thif now has a key for the vehicle if cut.
The other problem with the keybox is that no longer do you need a chipped key to operate the vehicle because the securilock transponder is bypassed!
Most alarm modules are literally slapped under the dash. The thief can get to it or the fuse easily and disable all features of the alarm and since it has remote start and transponder is bypassed, bypassing the ignition lock gets the vehicle down the road in less than a minute!
If everything is secured well and concealed under the dash, it will take longer to go around.
No matter what you do, you cannot prevent towing from an ordinary tow truck with a wheel lift. Trans linkage if needed to be disconnected because of drive wheels takes seconds.
Get the valet switch handled and check the install.
Word of warning as well, you have been most likely been targeted by your insurance company too. How? Since it has a transponder, it is their belief that the vehicle is "unstealable." They will probably deny your theft claim. I see this every day!
Make sure you have good insurance on the tools, just in case.
