Thieves won't be able to offload stolen $165,000 Jaguar

The Jaguar XFR that was stolen from Beacham Motors in Penrose, Auckland. Photo / Supplied

A $165,000 Jaguar stolen in a brazen Gone in 60 Seconds-esque heist this week will likely be "too hot" for the thieves to use, says a car theft expert.

The silver, keyless Jaguar XFR was stolen from Beacham Independent Jaguar and Range Rover dealership in Penrose, Auckland, on Monday afternoon. CCTV footage shows a man who the car retailers believe is behind the high-tech heist walking on to the car lot at 2.55pm, before somehow unlocking the car and driving off.

Waitemata Police car crime expert Detective Sergeant Callum McNeil said it was not the first time luxury, late model European cars had been targeted by thieves.

"Generally they have broken in and stolen the keys from the dealers, but the technology is now available. We have seen it in the UK and even in Australia and now we are starting to get it here where offenders have access to the technology."

However, due to New Zealand's size it was hard for the stolen vehicles - that stand out on the roads - to be moved.

"New Zealand is such a small country they are not going to be able to offload that vehicle here, it's going to be too hot.

"It's not like they can rebirth it, and by that I mean give it a new identity. They are not going to be able to strip it for parts because it's just too new."

Mr McNeil said the other high-end cars stolen were all recovered.

"As far as I am aware, there is no problem with luxury European cars disappearing forever. I think [the Jaguar] will be recovered at some stage.

"It will probably be stored for a while, maybe be used for further crime."

The manager of Beacham Independent Jaguar and Range Rover, Andrew Beacham, said the theft was like the action car heist film, Gone in 60 Seconds.

"It's like Gone in 60 Seconds and it was actually 60 seconds. He walked up and a minute later the car had gone," he said.

Mr Beacham said the car was locked and the dealership still had its keys.

Keyless car technology works when a device containing a chip - usually a small disc - is encrypted with a unique code syncing it to a vehicle. It only needs to be near the car to unlock it, and inside the vehicle to start the engine.

Each device is encrypted to one specific vehicle and connects only to that car using a radio frequency.

There were reports of similar thefts in Europe and the US last year, but Dr Foo had not heard of such incidents in Australasia.

An Auckland City Police spokeswoman said the complaint was being investigated.
Mr Beacham said there were reported sightings of the car - which had dealership licence plates - heading over the Harbour Bridge and being driven in the Upper Harbour area on Tuesday morning.

• Have you seen the car?
Contact Auckland police on (09) 302 6400 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.