General Discussion PLEASE READ. New way for crooks to steal your car!

lynnmosher

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I found this on FB and did a little searching. It appears to be true.

"I locked my car. As I walked away I heard my car door unlock. I went back and locked my car again three times. Each time, as soon as I started to walk away, I would hear it unlock again!! Naturally alarmed, I looked around and there were two guys sitting in a car in the fire lane next to the store. They were obviously watching me intently, and there was no doubt they were somehow involved in this very weird situation.

I quickly chucked the errand I was on, jumped in my car and sped away. I went straight to the police station, told them what had happened, and found out I was part of a new, and very successful, scheme being used to gain entry into cars. Two weeks later, my friend's son had a similar happening....

While traveling, my friend's son stopped at a roadside rest to use the bathroom. When he came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later, someone had gotten into his car and stolen his cell phone, laptop computer, GPS navigator, briefcase.....you name it. He called the police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into, the police told him he had been a victim of the latest robbery tactic -- there is a device that robbers are using now to clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your key-chain locking device..

They sit a distance away and watch for their next victim. They know you are going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom and that they now have a few minutes to steal and run. The police officer said to manually lock your car door-by hitting the lock button inside the car -- that way if there is someone sitting in a parking lot watching for their next victim, it will not be you.

When you hit the lock button on your car upon exiting, it does not send the security code, but if you walk away and use the door lock on your key chain, it sends the code through the airwaves where it can be instantly stolen.

Be wisely aware of what you just read and please pass this note on. Look how many times we all lock our doors with our remote just to be sure we remembered to lock them -- and bingo, someone has our code...and whatever was in our car.

Snopes Approved --Please share with everyone you know…from fb..just a heads up Just Aheads Up New ways to Steal Stuff & Cars!!! Please Be Aware u Could Be Next!!!"
 
I read something about wireless keyfob signals years ago and got into the habit of locking my car using the door button at that time.

I don't currently have a fob (but still want one for remote starting when it's very cold).
 
Oh, yeah! Always a good idea! 👍
 
I value to heads-up and gave it a go when I drove to a Lowe's yesterday. But, an old nemesis cropped up. When I manually locked the car, got out, and shut the door, I felt a slight chill, reminiscent of other times when I realized that I had left my keys inside. Thankfully, I had my keys in a pocket.
 
I value to heads-up and gave it a go when I drove to a Lowe's yesterday. But, an old nemesis cropped up. When I manually locked the car, got out, and shut the door, I felt a slight chill, reminiscent of other times when I realized that I had left my keys inside. Thankfully, I had my keys in a pocket.
That's when locking the door with the actual key part solves both problems in one. 🤣 Sometimes the old ways still have their value.
Of course, that requires having a working manual key lock. rather than a fake because someone stole the original lock...
 
That's when locking the door with the actual key part solves both problems in one. 🤣 Sometimes the old ways still have their value.
Of course, that requires having a working manual key lock. rather than a fake because someone stole the original lock...
So true, Lynae. You know, there has got to be a market for retro feature options: roll down windows (no more window motors breaking down), front bench seat (so my cell doesn’t slide down between both seats), a cassette tape player, front right antennas (so I can put a neon tennis ball on top, so that I can spot my parked car in a grocery store parking lot), etc.
 
front right antennas
What!!! They got rid of those?

I was just telling my Mom that we should start a car company that sells cars without all the modern junk on it, (anti-skid, gps, touchscreens, 'safety features' that make the vehicle not operate properly, cameras, etc.) and yet still keep a lot of the modern conveniences (heater and ac, radio, CD/cassette players, etc). Plus, have customizable options to allow people to have installed only the features they want. Somehow I doubt that would be legal though...

And yes, roll up windows would be nice! The buttons never seem to work for me to open the windows.
 
Thank you, Lyn, for this information. I will try to remember to do this when I am out.
 
I have other keys with my car key, so I don't use the fob at all. I lock it from the inside, but I make sure I have my keys in my hand, even if I have to dig them back out of my pocket, before I close the door. Now I have another reason to do that.
 

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