DRIVERS have been warned their keyless car could disappear within minutes with thieves able to break in and drive away using special tech.
However, there are affordable preventative measures, including a little gadget that costs a mere $10 that can protect vehicles from being targeted.
Drivers have been warned their keyless car could disappear within minutes[/caption]
Modern car keys make life easy for car thieves – who can use relay tech to break into keyless vehicles[/caption]
According to Shaun Carse, Director at Trackershop UK, criminals are able to use signal amplifiers and relay devices to intercept communications between key fobs and vehicles.
This allows them to drive away without needing the physical keys.
“Car thieves operate in twos, with one member standing next to your home to receive the signal from the key fob while their colleague waits next to the car,” Carse said.
“They magnify and reproduce this signal and fool the car into believing the key is there.”
He also says that cars with keyless entry are equally at risk as luxury models.
“The whole theft takes less than five minutes and may happen while the owner sleeps,” he added.
“After stealing your vehicle, robbers will often sell it at ‘chop shops’ or ship it out of the country.
“Both of these options bring high gain with low chance of getting caught.”
He does, however, have a solution in the form of a signal-blocking Faraday bag or even a simple metal container to store key fobs.
This inexpensive yet effective method can ultimately prevent signal interception.
Best of all, Faraday bags can be purchased from hardware stores or even online, at places like Walmart or Amazon, for around $10.
Other devices, including an old school mechanical steering wheel lock, can act as a visible deterrent, encouraging thieves to move on to easier targets.
“Keep your keys inside a signal-blocking Faraday bag or metal tin,” said Carse.
“Mechanical steering wheel locks provide a conspicuous deterrent that encourages robbers to target another car.”
What’s more, a GPS tracker provides another layer of security by enabling car owners to receive immediate alerts if their vehicle is moved without authorisation.
These trackers also allow law enforcement to act swiftly, significantly increasing the chances of recovery.
Carse emphasised the importance of staying ahead of technological advancements used by thieves, noting that traditional tools like crowbars are rarely needed anymore, as modern criminals rely on Wi-Fi and electronic devices to bypass security systems.
In the US, vehicle thefts have risen sharply, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Placing your key fob inside a metal tin could help protect it from relay thieves[/caption]
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
