subevo

Woke up to find cars doors lying open.turns out most of my neighbours had the same thing done.the police said they were using a remote gadget to open any make except vw/Audi.
Good job I never leave anything of value.i think a couple of cars were stolen as well.
Is this the new trend?

ScoobP1

iTrader: (1)

That's worrying if that's the case.

piehole1983

iTrader: (7)

That's a weird one! I had a look on google to see if there was much about it. It seems that the new thing is thieves are jamming the remote key radio signal so that the car doesn't actually get locked when you press the lock button. Someone from Manchester was convicted of doing this last year.

The other method is for keyless entry cars. By using a signal amplifier the car simply opens as it think the key is a lot closer than it really is. I guess the car could even be driven off to a certain extent!

S204Darren

I know from a friend of mine who works at a big retail outlet for there used ex lease cars that they've had numerous land rovers/ range rovers stolen using this method. They have not been stocking there retail outlets with these cars as until land rover come up with an answer they can't risk any more cars going. But reading this it seems more manufacturers are now being targeted. Scary times

andy97

iTrader: (1)

In laws had a new bmw stolen with one of these keyless entry systems. Never found. Can't beat a good old programmed key, better still some form of blackjax security system

neil-h

Not new at all I'm afraid. This sort of thing has been going on for years now. Best bet if you're worried about the car going walk abouts is to fit some persuasion of visible deterrent i.e. a disclock or similar, a lot of the OE electronic systems are surprisingly far from infallible.

dpb

Couldnt you just checked its locked after pressing the tit

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I've had my e46 and e39 opened. I don't specifically know how either and both were definetly locked beforehand (so no the remote signal wasn't "blocked"), and bear in mind I work on cars. Both had been rummaged through for belongings (sat navs etc). They stole a set of keys to a bungalow that had been demoslised...the address was on teh key tag. I'd love to see their faces when they turned up at the address with plans to rob it

Whats more worrying is the current BMW can be unlocked via the internet via a smartphone! If that app/server got hacked, they could well turn into even easier pickings.

Of course...you don't need to do it electronically - there's always the "old fashioned" way:

urban

iTrader: (1)

That scary, only saving grace is you're gonna trigger the alarm with that tool

BrownPantsRacing

iTrader: (6)

A friend of mine borrowed a car from their mate and drove 200 miles until they realised they forgot the keyless thing (still in their mates pocket). They only realised when they turned the car off and had to try re-start it. Seems once started the keys can be 200 miles away without worry!

LSherratt

iTrader: (1)

I would be seriously considering a bright yellow steering wheel lock if I had a BMW/VW/AUDI etc...

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Its not just the German stuff that's prone, they all are;...Merc, Ford, Land Rover, Jag....

A guy I know who is appliance repairman had his new Transit Connect stolen, never to be seen again. Admittedly the connect uses ten year old electronics for the immobilisers. But still, its a chip-in-key affair so the kit and knowledge needed...to nick....a £12K van?? WTF?

urban

iTrader: (1)

Yep, I had a 330S which was keyless and that's how it behaved.
However, if you tried to exit the car with the with the engine running, as soon as you were out of the car it would make a noise to alert you.

billyray911

iTrader: (4)

Massive problems around the Midlands at the moment with keyless thefts of Merc Sprinter vans and Land Rovers at the mo.Be aware...