beware keyless entry owners!!

villa chris

Active Member
Jul 4, 2015
260
6
not sure if its a new way of low lifes stealing cars but a couple of gtds have been took away in my erea in the last couple of months.
one of the guys caught someone scanning with a tablet or some device on his doorstep and apparently they try and scan for your keys ,then the car starts.
something along those lines anyway.
glad I don't have keyless entry as it seems quite easy now to to steal your car.
 

xyz

Full Member
Feb 28, 2004
565
204
oxford
Visit site
not sure if its a new way of low lifes stealing cars but a couple of gtds have been took away in my erea in the last couple of months.
one of the guys caught someone scanning with a tablet or some device on his doorstep and apparently they try and scan for your keys ,then the car starts.
something along those lines anyway.
glad I don't have keyless entry as it seems quite easy now to to steal your car.
A chap in Essex lost his Mercedes like this - the thieving scum placed a scanner against the outside wall of his house, "grabbed" the code and made off with his car. Back to a good old fashioned Disklok I'd say or invest in Autowatch Ghost.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:

kazand

Is powered by Medtronics
Jun 6, 2010
4,138
73
Brum
If you have a keyless entry type car, invest in something called a Faraday bag. Put your keys in one of those, it blocks any signals.
 

xyz

Full Member
Feb 28, 2004
565
204
oxford
Visit site
If you have a keyless entry type car, invest in something called a Faraday bag. Put your keys in one of those, it blocks any signals.



Only a tenner from Halfords. Glad I never ticked that box when I ordered my Golf.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

SRGTD

Active Member
May 26, 2014
2,388
1,279
Lots of discussion on this recently on one of the Golf forums.

If you get a faraday bag for your keys, don’t forget to get another for your second (spare) key.
 

Lmbarrett83

Active Member
Sep 8, 2017
1,538
619
Sheffield
not sure if its a new way of low lifes stealing cars but a couple of gtds have been took away in my erea in the last couple of months.
one of the guys caught someone scanning with a tablet or some device on his doorstep and apparently they try and scan for your keys ,then the car starts.
something along those lines anyway.
glad I don't have keyless entry as it seems quite easy now to to steal your car.

They can use an amplifier which scans for the signals of your keys (within the house)

If they locate the signals emitted by the keys with the amplifier they be can sent to a transmitter.

The transmitter convinces the car that the keys are within proximity.

This is one of the reasons I didn't tick the keyless option, but to be honest I don't know enough about it all.

I've read that these are potential additional precautions to take

1) keep keys away from doors and windows
2) purchase a Faraday bag or a box to block the signal
3) turn the signal off via the key (if supported check manual)
4) steering lock
5) install a post on the driveway
6) park car behind other car
7) immobilizer

It's a shame as the whole thing is designed to be more convenient :(

Although I guess its safer than them breaking into your house for the keys..

Although whilst it was BMW, Audi, VW on the list for break ins, the keyless game may have opened it up for the rest.
 
Last edited:

indyjones

Active Member
Aug 14, 2017
185
60
Hmmm I did tick the option for mine but, tbh if someone wants to steal it I expect they will find a way.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk
 

Lmbarrett83

Active Member
Sep 8, 2017
1,538
619
Sheffield
Hmmm I did tick the option for mine but, tbh if someone wants to steal it I expect they will find a way.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

I'm sure many people have ticked the option and won't have problems.

And yes I agree that if they want to steal it they will - just like how they break in for the keys.

I was just highlighting how it can be done, and what precautions can be taken for those still wanting the option but are security concious.

I was also raising the question as to whether it makes them more of a target now they're easier to take? Where as before it was the more prestigious brands.

But again I'm not sure how easy the whole process is i.e getting hold of the kit and learning how to use it.
 

indyjones

Active Member
Aug 14, 2017
185
60
Yeah and it's good you are spreading the awareness in a sensible manner. I wonder how different the scanner is to one they use to clone the signal to unlock the car on a standard key, but with that case obviously they need to find a way still to start the car..

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:

SRGTD

Active Member
May 26, 2014
2,388
1,279
They can use an amplifier which scans for the signals of your keys (within the house)

If they locate the signals emitted by the keys with the amplifier they be can sent to a transmitter.

The transmitter convinces the car that the keys are within proximity.

This is one of the reasons I didn't tick the keyless option, but to be honest I don't know enough about it all.

I've read that these are potential additional precautions to take

1) keep keys away from doors and windows
2) purchase a Faraday bag or a box to block the signal
3) turn the signal off via the key (if supported check manual)
4) steering lock
5) install a post on the driveway
6) park car behind other car
7) immobilizer

It's a shame as the whole thing is designed to be more convenient :(

I’d say that in addition to the above precautions, buying GAP insurance is worthwhile, so if your car is stolen and not recovered, then you won’t have to worry about your insurer just settling the claim at current market value. Provided you buy GAP cover from one of the many specialist GAP insurers and not the dealer, it’s cheap too. Personally, if my car was stolen, I wouldn’t want it back after it had been abused by some worthless piece of scum.

Although I guess its safer than them breaking into your house for the keys..

Although whilst it was BMW, Audi, VW on the list for break ins, the keyless game may have opened it up for the rest.

Also, worth ensuring that you’ve got good door and window locks on your home. And yes, seems that it’s not just German marques that are targeted; theft of keyless Ford Fiesta ST’s has been an issue for some time.
 
Last edited:

kazand

Is powered by Medtronics
Jun 6, 2010
4,138
73
Brum
:clap:

I’d say that in addition to the above precautions, buying GAP insurance is worthwhile, so if your car is stolen and not recovered, then you won’t have to worry about your insurer just settling the claim at current market value. Provided you buy GAP cover from one of the many specialist GAP insurers and not the dealer, it’s cheap too. Personally, if my car was stolen, I wouldn’t want it back after it had been abused by some worthless piece of scum.



Also, worth ensuring that you’ve got good door and window locks on your home. And yes, seems that it’s not just German marques that are targeted; theft of keyless Ford Fiesta ST’s has been an issue for some time.
Google 'lock snapping' , it's scary how easy and how quick these scrotes can gain access to your home. Needless to say I've invested in some slightly more robust units,.plus some other, ahem, discreet measures :whistle:
 

Lmbarrett83

Active Member
Sep 8, 2017
1,538
619
Sheffield
Yeah and it's good you are spreading the awareness in a sensible manner. I wonder how different the scanner is to one they use to clone the signal to unlock the car on a standard key, but with that case obviously they need to find a way still to start the car..

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Hmm,

I seem to remember that those scanners can be used when you actually press the unlock button on your car.

It has to pick up the radio frequency at the time. Meaning the device has to be left in range or the thief close by waiting for the unlock.

Keyless makes it easier as it doesn't require waiting for the car to be unlocked with the key. They can seemingly scan for the keys from the outside of the house.

And as you mentioned starting the car would be easier in the keyless scenario.

I wonder how far the range is on the keys
 

Lmbarrett83

Active Member
Sep 8, 2017
1,538
619
Sheffield
:clap:

I’d say that in addition to the above precautions, buying GAP insurance is worthwhile, so if your car is stolen and not recovered, then you won’t have to worry about your insurer just settling the claim at current market value. Provided you buy GAP cover from one of the many specialist GAP insurers and not the dealer, it’s cheap too.


Couldn't agree more on GAP. I nearly suffered as a result of not having it.
 

SRGTD

Active Member
May 26, 2014
2,388
1,279
Any recommendations for gap insurance please? Or is it like car insurance? So just shop around?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

I used ALA, although it’s worth also checking the likes of Direct GAP and GAP Insurance 123. Also do a search on discount codes on the internet, as there’s quite often additional discounts to be had off the quoted website premiums. Some of the GAP insurers will also match competitor premiums and undercut by x% of the difference between their premium and the competitor’s premium, so worth getting a few quotes to compare prices and see if you can take advantage of the price match and undercut offers.
 

xyz

Full Member
Feb 28, 2004
565
204
oxford
Visit site
As I mentioned earlier, Autowatch Ghost is a good investment. It's an immobiliser system that can only be deactivated by putting in a sequence of button pushes on your steering controls - for example - volume control up three times then down twice followed by radio channel button up once - you can choose the sequence you want and pretty much as many button pushes as you want. The beauty of the system is that there's no flashing red light and no warning signs on the windows so no one knows it's there. If someone breaks into your house for the keys and puts a knife to your throat, as has happened to someone on the VWROC forum, even once they have the keys, they can't do anything except unlock the doors. They'll either bog off because they can't be bothered or ask you what's wrong with the car - just say you don't know and again, they'll probably bog off as they won't want to hang around. If enough people are interested, you might be able to get a discount through a group buy.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
 

Shaady

Active Member
Jan 25, 2017
167
25
This has been an issue with keyless for some time, it was a massive problem with the Focus RS's at one point too

One of the first things you should do is get some sort of visual deterrent, most likely if you have a disklock, post in the drive etc then they will likely move on to an easier target
 

monopoly

Active Member
May 22, 2015
58
2
As I mentioned earlier, Autowatch Ghost is a good investment. It's an immobiliser system that can only be deactivated by putting in a sequence of button pushes on your steering controls - for example - volume control up three times then down twice followed by radio channel button up once - you can choose the sequence you want and pretty much as many button pushes as you want. The beauty of the system is that there's no flashing red light and no warning signs on the windows so no one knows it's there. If someone breaks into your house for the keys and puts a knife to your throat, as has happened to someone on the VWROC forum, even once they have the keys, they can't do anything except unlock the doors. They'll either bog off because they can't be bothered or ask you what's wrong with the car - just say you don't know and again, they'll probably bog off as they won't want to hang around. If enough people are interested, you might be able to get a discount through a group buy.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

OR.. a much cheaper investment with a similar effect: Buy yourself a £4.95 spare key fob from eBay. Leave it in plain sight in your house, near the door. Hide the real key. Let the thief come in and leave with the dummy key and watch them try and open the car. 9/10 they're not going to come back to look again for another key, but just in case they do, i'll be using that 30 seconds to grab my 6lb maul.

Extra laughs can be had by unlocking the car for them (while they're still hammering on the dummy key), then as soon as they get in a close the door, deadlocking them inside and phoning the police.
 

SRGTD

Active Member
May 26, 2014
2,388
1,279
OR.. a much cheaper investment with a similar effect: Buy yourself a £4.95 spare key fob from eBay. Leave it in plain sight in your house, near the door. Hide the real key. Let the thief come in and leave with the dummy key and watch them try and open the car. 9/10 they're not going to come back to look again for another key, but just in case they do, i'll be using that 30 seconds to grab my 6lb maul.

Extra laughs can be had by unlocking the car for them (while they're still hammering on the dummy key), then as soon as they get in a close the door, deadlocking them inside and phoning the police.

But if the car’s keyless, they can get in the car, start it and drive away without having to break in the house to get the key fob if they’ve got the signal amplifier / transmission equipment.

Measures already suggested in this thread such as keeping the keys in a Faraday bag to stop the key transmitting a signal, fitting a visual deterrent such as a Diskloc, or an immobiliser system such as Autowatch Ghost and having GAP insurance would seem to be the prudent approach to reduce the risk of a car with keyless entry being stolen.
 

surrealjam

Active Member
Jan 8, 2015
328
53
Already been mentioned but make sure all your locks are anti-snap. You can also get door handles which protect the barrel (such as this). The anti-snap locks are great but they won't know it's anti-snap till they break it - and you're left with a costly repair! The door handle might withstand the initial attempt.

Of course the subject of this is keyless entry. Again, already mentioned but a steering wheel lock might put them off trying. I've heard people say "it only takes them 2 minutes to get those off". Well if I was stealing a car off someone's drive, I wouldn't want to be sat around for 2 minutes making lots of noise.
 
Adrian Flux insurance services - discount for forum members.