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Auto Theft Prevention/keypath analysis
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Question
What is your opinion of keypath analysis? Is it a valid and reliable exam?
Key path analysis used to be hearlded as the greatest thing in the world when it came to determining if a car was stolen.
Trademarked by North Eastern Technical Services the process was to determine the last key used in a door lock or ignition.
Many tried to prove such a process throughout the forensic community. In reality this process was never held up for scrutiny and yet insurance companies commonly denied theft claims because of the last key used.
For a number of years this process was allegedly proprietory which was kept secrect. If it was secret, it could not be forensic. I am not aware of any error ratings although one insurance company told me when questioned in a Tennessee court, the error rating was listed at 35%. That means the process was wrong on 65 out of 100 claims.
There are many in the forensic locksmith field that try to mimic the process as well with their own version.
The variables are staggering.
Many plaintiff (insured) attorneys took this process of being valid as well, because they never knew what to ask about the process.
The last key used theory is no longer applied by its founder. It is now a key of the "proper type."
Does this mean the correct key or anything that will turn the ignition lock cylinder?
The time has now come that general statements of such are not going to be valid.
One such example is the GM 10-cut with PASS LOCK for GM trucks and SUVs. Pass lock is a factory installed anti-theft system. There is nothing special about it. The system only depends on the rotation of the ignition lock. The key is a three dollar key blank.
Now, the correct key will turn the lock as well as keys that are not close to the same cut coinciding with the ignition lock cylinder wafers (tumblers). This lock which has been used since 1995 had many problems. So much so that instead of installing the required 9 wafers, the factory removed 2 of them bringing it down to 7 which just gave you a whole new combination of working keys.
Can the use of a specific key be determined? Yes, but when it was last used unless it is in the lock is anyones guess.
I have worked thousands of claims and a handful of court cases involving these issues.
When the vehicle would be recovered burned, the insurance company would just scoop up the burn debris, throw it in a box and send it to a lab.
Common sense here tells you there is a problem. When a vehicle burns (depending on where accelerated and fire suppression techniques)gravity controls where the melting parts fall from the steering column. Another variable is what composes the steering column as well. Everything should fall in order. 95% of all steering columns can be defeated with no damage to the ignition keyway. If the lock was found at carpet level it was removed before the fire. The problem is forensic locksmiths can only report on the condition of the lock and nothing else when it comes to the vehicle.
The latest ploy I have seen by some California insurance companies is to deny a theft claim on a vehicle equipped with a transponder that was never recovered. I am currently aware of 18 claims of such. How can you say the car was not stolen when you don't have it to examine? They are going to love my defense!!!!
I currently have 10 cases out west against a forensic locksmith that claims the vehicle was last operated with a key of the "proper type." Out of the same kind of vehicle I referrence one had the interior stolen. The other which was recovered burned was missing an interior before the fire he never noticed!
What is of the utmost importance is that forensic locksmiths are only looking at the lock and sometimes the keys. They appear not to be aware of parts stolen by unscroupulous body shops. Or, is it that some insurance companies don't want to see the whole picture because they might have to pay the claim?
For any additional correspondence please send private email to rpainter@wi.rr.com
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Answers by Expert:
Rob 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.....
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