‘This is actually going to save you a lot’ | Houston police urge drivers to get OBD port locks to prevent vehicle theft

KHOU, By Orko Manna, February 7, 2025

HOUSTON — The Houston Police Department is warning drivers about a high-tech way criminals are now stealing cars by using something every single vehicle has.

Sgt. Tracy Hicks with HPD’s Auto Theft Crimes Task Force said some thieves are utilizing the on-board diagnostics, or OBD, port, which is located somewhere under the steering wheel in most vehicles.

“The way they’re doing that is getting access to your vehicle by the door lock or smashing a window. What they’re doing, is they’re plugging into what’s called the OBD port,” Sgt. Hicks said. “They’re talking to the brain of the computer, the actual brain of the computer of the truck that makes it run, and with access to that, the device they’re using, they’re not real cheap, they’re expensive, so there are not a lot of them out there, but the crooks that have them, they work on all cars.”

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