How A Simple Trick Lets Thieves Drive Off With Your Car In Seconds

• Thieves use antennas to capture hidden key signals and unlock cars fast.
• Others quietly reprogram ignitions after breaking in with locksmith gear.
• Police urge simple fixes that could stop thieves before they even try.

Once upon a time, stealing a car meant knowing your way around a lockpick and some wires. It took effort, noise, and a fair bit of nerve. These days, thieves are up against more advanced anti-theft systems, so they’ve swapped out screwdrivers for digital tools. In many cases, they don’t even need to touch the car to get in.

After two high-tech thefts in California, police are urging residents to keep a closer eye on their keys, even when those fobs never leave the house.

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Authorities say that a recent wave of thefts in the state shows criminals using wireless relay devices and locksmith-style tablets to bypass modern anti-theft systems, often targeting luxury vehicles. One Anaheim Hills resident told KTLA that suspects walked straight up to his door, but it wasn’t to break in.

How Are They Getting In?

Caught on a security camera, the suspect approached the front door and held up what looked like a crude antenna. The device picked up the signal from a key fob inside the house, amplified it, and relayed it to a second person stationed near the vehicle in the driveway.

From there, thieves were able to open the door, hop in, start it up, and drive away. That’s right, no real key necessary. “Who would’ve thought someone would come with an antenna and take your car away from you?” the victim said.

Just days later in Lake Forest, a nearly identical incident was caught on home surveillance. Video shows a masked suspect sweeping a driveway with the same style of antenna, moments before the stolen vehicle’s engine can be heard firing up.

Tools of the (Digital) Trade

Anaheim Police Sgt. Matt Sutter says detectives are now investigating at least two more cases over the same weekend. And antennas aren’t the only problem.

Another pair of thieves recently broke a truck’s rear window, climbed in, then plugged a locksmith tablet into the vehicle’s OBD port to reprogram the ignition and start the truck instantly. Because the window was tinted, the glass stayed mostly intact, making the break-in even quieter on camera.

How to Protect Your Car

Police recommend a few easy precautions. First, don’t leave key fobs near doors or windows where a relay device can pick up the signal. Turning off passive keyless entry when not needed can also help reduce vulnerability. And while Faraday pouches or even aluminum foil might sound low-tech, they can effectively block a fob’s signal from reaching outside.

Moreover, if you have a garage, officers say now’s the time to actually use it. That last tip is key because in the case of criminals with locksmith-style tablets, keeping a key in a Faraday bag doesn’t help at all.

Credit: NBC News

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