Car thieves are hacking key fobs to quickly and quietly steal vehicles

https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/car-thieves-are-hacking-key-fobs-to-quickly-and-quietly-steal-vehicles

Car thieves are hacking key fobs to quickly and quietly steal vehicles
by Bettie Cross
Thursday, May 12th 2022

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“A lot of drivers are not aware of this ability for thieves to steal their vehicle by simply just standing outside of their home,” said Daniel Armbruster with AAA Texas.

AAA says that across the United States, there have been reports that thieves are using power amplifiers to boost the signal from vehicle owners’ key fobs and unlock car doors.

“This can happen to you. It’s not something that’s just a high-tech idea or sci-fi fantasy. This really is happening and, of course, many drivers are finding out the hard way,” said Armbruster.

Keyless car thefts generally take less than two minutes, make little noise, and leave behind no broken glass as evidence a crime has even taken place. AAA says there’s a simple way to protect one of your most expensive pieces of property.

“Don’t leave your key fob in an area near the front door,” said Armbruster. “When you’re at home, store your car keys or fob in a metal cabinet or with some sort of device that protects the radio signal from being intercepted.”


Cars with keyless entry and keyless start are becoming a growing target for thieves. The keyless convenience is being exploited by crooks so they can quickly and quietly pop the locks. (Photo: CBS Austin)


This picture is from a keyless car theft in England. One crook goes to the front door where a lot of people store their key fobs. The signal from the key fob is amplified and relayed to a second device that’s being held close to the car door. The car is tricked into thinking the key fob is next to the door. That allows the car to be opened, started and driven away. (Photo: West Midlands Police)