A Ferrari 488 was stolen from a residence in Melbourne, Australia during what authorities describe as a targeted burglary in which thieves entered the home to obtain the keys to the exotic sports car before driving it away. The case reflects an increasingly common methodology for stealing modern high-value vehicles with sophisticated electronic security systems that make it difficult or impossible to start the car without its proper key fob — rather than attempting to defeat the vehicle’s security, thieves instead target the keys and the human beings who possess them. The level of planning implied by this type of home burglary suggests organized criminal activity rather than opportunistic theft.
Key-based residential burglaries targeting exotic cars are a growing concern in major cities across the developed world, with Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States seeing increases in this type of crime as relay attack technology has become better known and as manufacturers have responded with improved electronic security that makes direct vehicle exploitation more difficult. The security implications for high-value vehicle owners extend beyond the car itself to the security of their home and the protection of the keys, requiring a comprehensive rethinking of residential security that many owners have not yet undertaken. The Melbourne investigation is ongoing.