Keyless Entry Theft.

A keyless entry system is fitted to many modern vehicles. Entry to the car and ignition is permitted to anyone who is carrying the electronic "key fob". This is very convenient since no physical key is inserted into the car. 

Issue: The keys radiate electronic signals constantly. These can be captured and relayed long distances to the car using simple technology that's readily available to enable theft . 

Why worry about Keyless ? 

A vehicle with Keyless Entry simply needs to have its key fob in close proximity to unlock its doors and allow ignition to be started.

​This feature is very convenient but is exploited by criminals to easily steal your vehicle.

How Keyless its works ? 

When the fob is close to the vehicle, there is an automatic digital "challenge" and "response" exchange.
 
The vehicle unlocks if its happy that its owner and keyfob are nearby. If the febfob is inside the car, the vehicle can also be started. ​

What's the issue ?

Thieves have compromised Keyless Entry technology! They can now "spoof" your car and simulate your key fob being close by when in fact its safely inside the your home with a "Signal Relay" device .

How ? They approach your home, scan for your key fob inside and "relay" the signal to the vehicle parked outside (see video). 

SUMMARY KEYLESS ENTRY Theft
  1. YOU PARK YOUR CAR - Safely parked and locked outside your home
  2. YOUR KEYLESS FOB INSIDE - Stored somewhere in your home
  3. SCANS YOUR HOME - Thief walks up to your home with a "relay scanner"
  4. RELAYS YOUR FOB SIGNAL - Thief's relay device scans your fob inside your home & "forwards" signal to your vehicle
  5. VEHICLE UNLOCKS - Vehicle unlocks doors thinking its keys are nearby and also allows the engine to start
  6. VEHICLE STOLEN - Vehicle can now be driven off - No broken glass, no alarms and no GPS tracker activations
  7. CAR ABANDONED - Vehicle will be left in a car park or residential street for a few days (in case a gps tracker is fitted) 
  8. LATER - THIEF CREATES A KEY - Thief returns and uses its OBD PORT to download and create a new key fob 

PREVENT & DETER KEYLESS ENTRY Theft
PREVENTION @ HOME - ​Make every effort to prevent a thief from being able to scan your keys at any time!
  • Always keep your CAR KEYS (including the SPARE) in a FARADAY BAG - from the moment you get out of your vehicle
  • At home, a METAL TIN with a proper sealing lid is effective for storing your keyless  fobs 
  • Never store keyless CAR KEYS near external doors, windows or any walls close to the street.  
  • Visual Protection : Always use a steering wheel lock eg. STOPLOCK or DISKLOK
  • Extra Safe : Install a third party OBD PORT protection OR vehicle immobilisation system. These often have separate fobs (to your keys) which are required to start your vehicle. The thieves don't have these! Relatively inexpensive and may pay for itself!​

PREVENTION OUT & ABOUT - ​​​Make every effort to prevent a thief from being able to scan your keys at any time!​
  • Always keep your CAR KEYS in a FARADAY BAG - from the moment you get out of your vehicle. ​​
  • Why ? There is evidence that thieves are now using mobile scanning devices. You can be in a shopping centre or coffee shop where your key is scanned while an accomplice steals your car from the car park!
  • Visual Protection : Always use a steering wheel lock eg. STOPLOCK or DISKLOK
  • Extra Safe : Install a third party OBD PORT protection OR vehicle immobilisation system. These often have separate fobs (to your keys) which are required to start your vehicle. The thieves don't have these! Relatively inexpensive and may pay for itself!​
​
DETERRENTS
  • ​Fit and regularly use a physical steering wheel lock e.g. DISKLOK or STOPLOCK. 
  • Thieves will see a steering wheel locks fitted and most times move on to another non-protected vehicle. 
  • Even if thieves have compromised your car key using COVERT THEFT (above), they will be reluctant to attempt physical removal of a steering wheel lock.
  • Finally, if you have taken any actions to prevent theft, fit STICKERS on your car to let the thief know! ​