DRIVERS have been told that a simple auto trick can help unlock their vehicle doors in a pinch.
However, law enforcement officers cautioned that auto thieves can use this trick against unsuspecting drivers.
A driver opened her friend’s car door using the hidden key in the key fob[/caption]
This simple auto trick has been used by thieves to break into drivers’ vehicles[/caption]
One driver, Jessica Hyde, posted a video explaining how her friends nearly evaded a car hacker after trying to open their vehicle’s door.
“If you have a key fob, you really need to listen to this message because what just happened to me and my friends was insane,” she told her TikTok followers.
In the video, Hyde (@jessica.hyde2) explained that after a group dinner, her friends were getting in their vehicles, ready to drive home for the night.
However, when one of her friends believed her car battery had died, Hyde whipped out a handy-dandy auto trick to open the vehicle’s driver’s seat door.
Essentially, if a key fob’s battery dies, many vehicles have a hidden mechanical key within the fob that can be used to unlock the car and even start it.
To access the manual key, you usually need to release it from the fob, often by pressing a button or sliding a lever.
The keyhole for the door is typically located on the driver’s side door, sometimes hidden behind a panel or the door handle.
For push-button start vehicles, the fob can sometimes be placed in a designated slot or held against a specific area to start the car even with a dead battery.
Although this trick can save a driver from having to tow their vehicle, there is one potential drawback that many drivers don’t consider.
Opening the car door manually could trigger the vehicle’s alarm — which is exactly what happened to Hyde.
“Come to find out, I got in her car, started her car — her alarm started going off,” she noted.
“I didn’t even realize there were police officers in the parking lot.”
After explaining the situation to the cop, Hyde was informed that an auto thief had been patrolling the parking lot trying to steal cars.
“He said there was actually somebody in the parking lot, while we were in the restaurant, with a key fob reader,” she said.
How to prevent vehicle theft
Here are 10 ways to avoid your car being stolen according to an auto insurance company:
- Lock your doors. It makes it more difficult for thieves to access anything inside the vehicle.
- Keep your keys on your person. With smart keys and fobs, a car can be unlocked if the key is close by. If the key is inside or on your person, it can’t be unlocked.
- Don’t leave a spare key near the vehicle, as thieves know to look for them in common places like in a wheel well, under items in the driveway, or in the glovebox.
- Keep windows closed. If a window is open, thieves can manually unlock the doors.
- Park in well-lit areas, as it helps detour thieves if their actions are visible to passersby.
- If your vehicle doesn’t have one, consider an anti-theft alarm system.
- If you live in a high-crime area, consider an immobilizer device that utilizes a kill switch if the device doesn’t recognize an authorized key.
- Consider a tracking device to be able to keep tabs on your vehicle’s location if it’s stolen.
- Never leave valuables in the car, especially in a visible spot. Thieves know to look in the floor boards, passenger, or rear seats for valuables.
- Double-check before leaving the vehicle that it’s secure.
- To protect wheels and tires, especially aftermarket wheels, consider wheel lock lug nuts. They require a special socket to remove, so they’re impossible to remove without it.
Source: Allstate Auto Insurance
Using that reader, thieves who are loitering around target vehicles with keyless entry systems are able to get inside.
“If your key fob is close enough to your car, they can copy your key fob encryption and get into your car and steal it,” Hyde said.
The video has already garnered over 2.8 million views and 2,110 comments.
Many social media users shared ways to avoid getting scammed.
“Wrap foil around your key fob, keeps people from scanning it,” said one TikTok user.
Several also recommended a Faraday pouch or a Faraday cage to block the signal, preventing thieves from amplifying and relaying it to steal your car.
Additionally, drivers can keep their key fob away from doors and windows, and consider turning off keyless entry or using a steering wheel lock for added security.
Others were yearning for the days when vehicles only had physical keys.
“As a tow truck driver…please bring back keys for the ignition. I’ve helped many people learn how to handle this,” another commented.
“I already dislike push to start, this just makes me dislike it even more,” another echoed. “They need to revert back to key in ignition for all or at least have it as an option!!”
