Video: BMW stolen by hijacking the signal from the key

[Robin_NL]

This is at the house of one of our Dutch driving-fun.com forum members, e30m3_chris. His M140i got stolen two days go. The burglars just took the signal of the key left in the house, amplified it, and there you go.

So think again when choosing the Comfort Access option. I didn't order it, and this was the main reason.

Discuss.

Cheers
Robin

[metrickid]

If they steal your car you can get a LCI - Win win?

[eleniki]

Robin_NL, so sorry for your friend's loss. That's awful..
I am recently digging up the net, reading tons of articles on the subject. And it's scary. The worst part is that the devices, used for stealing, could not be traced back. Besides that, those devices are known for being able to pick up your key signal from up to 10 feet. ( So basically, the thief could be "walking" in front of your door, pretending to simply be passing by.) Once the signal from your key is "caught" the device starts to transfer the data. It takes seconds and then - they are gone with ur car.
I'm mad that so far noone is able to anything. It's a matter of hacking - almost anyone with computing skills can "build" such relay box and they go around the block and unlock cars. And who can stop it? So i have been wondering how and where to hide my key so that it can't be reached. If anyone has suggestions - i would like to hear it.

[metrickid]

Originally Posted by eleniki

And who can stop it? So i have been wondering how and where to hide my key so that it can't be reached. If anyone has suggestions - i would like to hear it.

Just put your key in a metal box or something that stops the radio waves when you get home. Problem solved.

[danniexi]

Originally Posted by metrickid

Just put your key in a metal box or something that stops the radio waves when you get home. Problem solved.

i have mine covered in aluminum foil and unwrap it like a piece of chocolate only when needed to unlock/start the car.

[crabu2]

How do these relay boxes work? I thought the only signal coming from the key was the one that allowed you to start the car and I thought that signal was super weak.

I can't even put my car top down, without standing next to it, using the comfort access feature because the car can't pick up the comfort access key.

[Sabcat]

Originally Posted by eleniki

Robin_NL, so sorry for your friend's loss. That's awful..
I am recently digging up the net, reading tons of articles on the subject. And it's scary. The worst part is that the devices, used for stealing, could not be traced back. Besides that, those devices are known for being able to pick up your key signal from up to 10 feet. ( So basically, the thief could be "walking" in front of your door, pretending to simply be passing by.) Once the signal from your key is "caught" the device starts to transfer the data. It takes seconds and then - they are gone with ur car.
I'm mad that so far noone is able to anything. It's a matter of hacking - almost anyone with computing skills can "build" such relay box and they go around the block and unlock cars. And who can stop it? So i have been wondering how and where to hide my key so that it can't be reached. If anyone has suggestions - i would like to hear it.

You can pick up a pouch like this one.


Keyfob RFID Signal Blocking Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y3FLYWG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9a4IzbAC41491

[Gamb1t]

Wow that's like Gone in 30 Seconds. Sucks for your friend. I think the thief has been casing the block and it's a planned attack. Doesn't help that the bimmer is parked outside ready to be driven out.

That's why all of our cars are inside the garage. Would be thief aren't attracted to something if they cannot see it and walks to the next easy target. And we live in a neighbourhood where given eye contact.
However CA or no CA, a determined thief can steal your car.

[Dackelone]

The Germans say to just put both car keys inside your refrigerator! The fridge isolates the key fob signal from these sorts of amplifiers that criminals use. A lot of cars are stolen here in Germany on the Eastern side/border. (Poland/Czech)

Dackel

[ASAP]

Perhaps the US is different than most other places... but car theft as a whole is somewhat rare here here. The better the car, the rarer. Then, even if there is a theft, Insurance will cover it without much issue and you will often get a very fair value for your car.... theft is just not something to worry about here.

[dzvero]

Originally Posted by metrickid

If they steal your car you can get a LCI - Win win?

Only if you paid premium for insurance

[xQx]

If you're in a high risk neighborhood keep your keys in a metal box or in the fridge. Also, consider one of the cheap GPS tracking solutions available on the market now.

If you're not, this is what you pay insurance for.

It's a neat trick, but they can only start the car once - it's not much different from just turning up with a flatbed truck with rollers in the middle of the day, hitching your car up and driving away.

I love comfort access, I'd say it's worth the risk.

[metrickid]

Originally Posted by dzvero

Only if you paid premium for insurance

In civilized countries the insurance covers theft without any extras.

[Alvinized52]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

The Germans say to just put both car keys inside your refrigerator! The fridge isolates the key fob signal from these sorts of amplifiers that criminals use. A lot of cars are stolen here in Germany on the Eastern side/border. (Poland/Czech)

Dackel

I read somewhere that batteries shouldn't be put in refrigerators as the cold temp lessens the battery's lifespan. Not sure if theres truth to that. But i would want my remote battery to last. Its expensive to get replacement keyfob battery in US.

[xQx]

Originally Posted by Alvinized52

I read somewhere that batteries shouldn't be put in refrigerators as the cold temp lessens the battery's lifespan. Not sure if theres truth to that. But i would want my remote battery to last. Its expensive to get replacement keyfob battery in US.

Use eBay. They're button batteries, and they're hideously expensive... but they're a standard size, and that expense is all retailer margin.

Jump on eBay and you can get 10 for the price of 1 over the counter.

But... you know... if you live in the northern half of the USA, wouldn't putting the key in the fridge in winter actually heat it up?
(j/k - i live in the tropics)

[GeorgeA]

So give up one of the most convenient options that should honestly be standard on these cars just so you won't get your car stolen? The chance of that happening is very very slim but the advantage of having comfort access every single day is huge IMO.

[Eternal]

Originally Posted by GeorgeA

So give up one of the most convenient options that should honestly be standard on these cars just so you won't get your car stolen? The chance of that happening is very very slim but the advantage of having comfort access every single day is huge IMO.

This is my thought process as well. The odds of this happening are extremely low.

[Daftasabrush]

Originally Posted by Eternal

This is my thought process as well. The odds of this happening are extremely low.

Not in Europe, very common method of stealing cars these days

[Eternal]

Originally Posted by Daftasabrush

Not in Europe, very common method of stealing cars these days

Common method of stealing cars? Yes. Common statistically compared to the amount of cars out there? No.


To put numbers behind it all. I chose a random country, Italy (well not random, I lived there) and looked at Auto thefts compared to the US. Italy is worse than the US. Italy is ranked 4th worst. US is 6th worst

Auto thefts Per 100,000 Residents
Italy 475
US 390.2

I would hardly call that common. And obviously not all of these are from comfort access.

[Daftasabrush]

Originally Posted by Eternal

Common method of stealing cars? Yes. Common statistically compared to the amount of cars out there? No.

Not really a comparison there is it?

You can't compare a common method of theft with the number of cars around.

I think it would be interesting to see the ratio of cars stolen with comfort access vs those that don't. I strongly suspect it'd be very much skewed against those with comfort access.

[Eternal]

Originally Posted by Daftasabrush

Not really a comparison there is it?

You can't compare a common method of theft with the number of cars around.

I think it would be interesting to see the ratio of cars stolen with comfort access vs those that don't. I strongly suspect it'd be very much skewed against those with comfort access.

I agree not a comparrison. But to use the word common and say because of it, do not get it is creating false hysteria.

It would be akin to saying, "It is very common for people to die who's parachutes do not open when skydiving. So do not go skydiving".
The commonality of your chute not opening is rare, so the very common nature of dieing from the chute not opening is insignificant.

The commonality of your car being stolen is rare, so the method of them being stolen is insignificant and IMHO, not worth outweighed by the nicety of comfort access.

[Daftasabrush]

Car thefts in Europe, certainly at least in England are NOT rare, and this is invariably because the cars being nicked have comfort access