Dude Where's My Car?

Car manufacturers make it all possible. Encrypting ignition systems electronically so that only the right key will work costs less than an average car alarm, but carmakers would rather sell parts to repair cracked steering columns than install effective locks. Chryslers are notoriously easy, and lives, not just cars, are at stake. St. Louis police last year complained directly to the company after teenagers driving stolen Chryslers were involved in five fatal collisions in less than six months. But Chrysler doesn't seem to give a damn.

The company doesn't plan on making encrypted ignitions standard equipment until 2007. "In a lot of rural areas, people leave their keys in the ignition," explains Cole Quinnell, company spokesman. "The person who does that doesn't want to pay an extra $200 for technology that they're obviously not going to use."

Nearly 58,000 cars "found" new owners in 2002, making Arizona the U.S. leader in per-capita auto theft.

"The bottom line is, stealing cars is easy, the penalties are light and the odds are in the thieves' favor."

Details

Illustrations by Mark Poutenis

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• Mark Fisher
• Pete Fenton
• Dennis McNulty
• Grand Larceny
• Crime

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That's good news for folks like Fisher. His Web site is a veritable one-stop shop for a would-be car thief. In addition to keys, he offers an electronic gizmo for disabling car alarms. Simply press the button and wait for the chirp that signals that the alarm's code has been cracked. He accepts PayPal, money orders -- even cash sent in the mail -- but he won't sell to Arizona residents, who must rely on friends in other states to get the goods. For no extra charge, along with the magic Chrysler key, Fisher suggests several ways to use the product, including one that "may damage the tumblers, but works very fast."

Fisher remains in business despite a state law passed last year that classifies master keys as burglary tools and makes their sale and possession a felony. But he won't be arrested anytime soon. Susan Luder, a Maricopa County prosecutor who specializes in auto theft, explains that a disclaimer on Fisher's Web site gets him off the hook. By clicking on the "I Agree" box, buyers promise that they're locksmiths, car dealers, cops or auto repossessors, not thieves, and that they won't use Fisher's products for illegal purposes.

In short, it's the honor system.

E-mail bruce.rushton@newtimes.com, or call 602-407-1715.