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The Asahi Shimbun
National Report
article
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
August 27, 2025 at 07:00 JST
A security camera captures three masked thieves trying to steal a Toyota Alphard minivan in Osaka’s Nishinari Ward on May 8. (Provided by the car owner)
With a big client base across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, car thieves in Japan are almost spoiled for choice.
Luxury SUVs and high-end models like Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus LX and RX continue to be highly sought after due to their hefty resale value.
But no matter what security measures are installed, thieves always seem to find a way to get around them, auto industry insiders lament.
Car thefts have been rising for three consecutive years. And in an alarming development, thieves sometimes now use a device that can generate a car key on the spot, highlighting the need for even more secure anti-theft systems.
ENDLESS GAME OF CATCH
On May 8, thieves scoping out a residential area in Osaka’s Nishinari Ward stopped their car in front of a house around 2:30 a.m. Three masked individuals got out to look over a Toyota Alphard minivan parked outside. Although a motion sensor triggered an alarm, the trio showed no concern.
One of them crouched in front of the Alphard holding a palm-sized device, while the other two kept watch. When the 59-year-old house occupant came outside, the three fled. The entire incident was captured by security cameras.
Though it lasted only three minutes or so, the resident was later told by Osaka Prefectural Police that the thieves had been “one step away from starting the engine.”
Car wiring was sticking out from a loosened bumper. Police suspect the thieves used a device known as CAN Invader, which can unlock the doors of almost any car and start the engine when it is hooked up to the wiring near the front-left section of a vehicle.
Automobile journalist Kumiko Kato noted that the device was originally developed for auto industry workers facing an emergency, such as when a car key is lost. Reports began emerging around 2019 of the devices being misused by criminal elements.
National Police Agency data shows that car thefts dropped off every year by 10 to 30 percent during the seven years from 2013 to 2020 but started to rise again in 2022, with the trend showing no sign of slowing. In 2024, there were 6,080 car thefts in Japan, up 318 cases from the previous year.
In Osaka alone, 327 cases were reported from January to June of this year, marking a 63.5-percent year-on-year increase.
The methods used by criminals have consistently evolved. In the 2010s, tools used by car thieves included immobilizer cutters to disable electronic anti-theft systems as well as a device to intercept and amplify the signal from smart keys to unlock cars.
Automakers responded by fitting vehicles with more sophisticated anti-theft devices. This served only to usher in the era of the CAN Invader as a tool to steal cars.
Carmakers are now working on ways to neutralize the threat from the CAN Invader in new car models. But car thieves remain undeterred. They have started using a device called a key emulator.
The tool analyzes signals emitted by the vehicle to extract key data so that a spare key can be created on the spot. As the device resembles a gaming console, it has been nicknamed “Game Boy.” It can unlock vehicles within minutes without causing any damage.
European websites that offer the device for sale list it for the purpose of testing vehicle security, with disclaimers that illegal use is prohibited. The devices are priced at between 2 million and 3 million yen ($13,300 to $20,000).
According to Kato, the auto journalist, buyers are often required to use highly secure apps to make purchases.
TOYOTA MODELS TARGETED
Toyota vehicles remain the most frequent targets in this escalating battle of wits. In 2024, the most stolen model was the Land Cruiser, followed by the Prius, Alphard, Lexus LX and other Toyota models that dominate the top six spots.
Stolen vehicles are typically smuggled through facilities for storage or dismantling known as the “yard,” and then exported to Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Osaka police believe that the high resale value and global demand for Toyota vehicles, along with slow progress in developing new anti-theft measures, are key reasons for the increase in theft cases.
“We are making every effort by introducing new technologies to enhance theft prevention functions,” a Toyota Motor representative told the The Asahi Shimbun in an interview. “We will continue to strengthen our information-gathering efforts to improve the effectiveness of our anti-theft measures.”
According to Osaka Prefectural Police, criminals often swap license plates to conceal the identity of stolen vehicles.
Installing anti-theft screws on license plates can help to reduce the risk of a car being targeted. Other effective steps include directly locking wheels and tires, as well as installing motion-sensor lights and security cameras.
Although electronic devices like the CAN Invader are widely used as “criminal tools,” there are no laws regulating their possession or sale.
“Even introducing restrictions on the possession or sale of these devices would significantly reduce the number of vehicles being stolen,” said a senior Osaka Prefectural Police official.
(This article was written by Tomoki Miyasaka and Mami Okada.)
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