Keyless Entry / Relay Theft

[van ordinaire]

I once drove an American hire car 200 miles from where I must've dropped the "key" because there was a spare I didn't know about in the armrest.

Fortunately, as this isn't usual practise, I didn't have to pay the eye-watering lost key penalty on returning the car - as they didn't realise I'd lost a "key"

This year I finally learnt how to lock the boot/tailgate with a fob that doesn't have a "lock" button.

[Hell Razor5543]

I remember, on one USA episode of Top Gear, when Richard Hammond was driving a Dodge Charger (with keyless entry/starting). JC, for fun, managed to 'park' it quite a distance away in the road (where it caused a hindrance to other road users). RH was very surprised when he came out after their meal and saw where his car now was.

[Zelandeth]

Just remembered one other detail about that...because there were three of us driving, we'd asked for two keys if possible. No problem said the hire company...

We got two keys...on a steel wire loop that couldn't be opened...so we had two keys in an awkwardly large bundle that we couldn't separate. Slightly annoying, especially as they wouldn't sit flat against each other in my pocket and kept jabbing me when I sat down.

[van ordinaire]

Nothing that a pair of side cutters won't cure (yup, bin there, dun that!)

[xantia_v6]

Our neighbour had his Tiguan company car stolen from his driveway last night. Probably a "relay" theft. It has a customised paint job with signwriting all over, including the roof, so would be easy to spot if left outside.

[GiveMeABreak]

More trouble than they are worth. Keyless systems are just so unsafe requiring rf shielding and the need to bury your fobs 50 feet deep in concrete each night to avoid your car being stolen.

[myglaren]

Must remember to tell my daughter that, she has just bought a Megane CC with keyless entry.
I think her sister's MX5 is the same.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yeh, it's fatal as unless they are the newer versions, the fobs give of a constant signal and it's this that the thieves use - they use an extender and a receiver - so one gets near your porch where typically most people hang their car keys up and it then picks up the constant signal being output, then the extender sends this off to the other chap who will be near the vehicle with the receiver and then the car thinks you are within the operating proximity and opens the car and off you go.

I think the latest ones Mercedes use now don't constantly keep outputting the signal - so only when they detect motion as if you are walking about.

[Hell Razor5543]

I wonder if a copper box (with a single wire connected to the earth pin of a plug) would shield the 'keys' from being read or boosted?

[myglaren]

She keeps hers in the middle of the house but I've advised her to put it in a Faraday Cage (Old PG Tips steel box)

Daughter with the MX5 lives out in the sticks but does the same. Son in law's 3L A5 would likely be a better target though.

[van ordinaire]

So, suddenly the cynical views of the Luddite of the group are finding favour.

Interesting that M-B are ahead of the game, seeing as I don't recall reading/hearing of their products being targetted: it's invariably BMW's & "LandRovers"! Nevertheless, will be looking out for M-B owners hopping up & down or running on the spot - because they can't get into their own car when standing by it.

[GiveMeABreak]

Not quite, it was their cars that were getting nicked!

They had to improve the system as their reputation was getting ripped to shreds.

[van ordinaire]

Well, as I said, I only seem to read about BM's & L-R's, + 1 A-series, - although a lot of older Mercs used to go missing, as a steady source of parts for Nigeria.

It's BM's that have had a reputation for being easy pickings - since long before keyless entry, which just makes it so much easier - but that's fine, 'cos every car stolen is another car, sold to replace it!

[GiveMeABreak]

And the latest debacle over Keyless entry systems: It was revealed that 3 alarm companies who designed an alarm system for owners of vulnerable keyless entry car systems to protect them, have themselves been hacked, allowing thieves to take control of a vehicle!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-47485731

The user accounts were hacked and smart phone apps that interface with the aftermarket alarms on the car were used to override locking on the cars, and could allow car jacking as shown in the clip. Although the 3 companies were given 7 days to do something about it before the report was made public, it just shows how vulnerable this crap technology is - having to use an aftermarket solution to cover the vulnerabilities and inadequacies of the OEM system, themselves being open to compromise!

So pleased I don't have one of these.

[van ordinaire]

The police advice is to fit some visible, physical anti-theft device.