Officers: “Keyless cars are becoming increasingly common on the market, and they are of particular interest to criminals, who intercept the signal from the proximity key to the car.”
They add:
If we have a modern vehicle equipped with a so-called keyless system, we should consider protecting the card or key, as criminals may try to read its data.
Importantly, thieves using the “relay attack” method not only take advantage of opportunities when the owner leaves the vehicle in a car park while going shopping. They also exploit the fact that the vehicle’s key or card may be left somewhere where its signal can be detected from outside—for example, near a door or window. In such a situation, they do not even need to approach the victim.
What can you do to avoid being robbed?
- Do not place the key near the entrance, in the hallway, on a windowsill, or even next to an exterior wall of the building.
- It is best to put the key in a metal box, a special case, or wrap it in aluminum foil.
- It is a good idea to buy a special case or other container for the car’s proximity key that blocks radio signals and reduces the risk of thieves intercepting the signal emitted by the key.