Thieves using ‘signal stealing’ technology to break into cars in Country Club
Christina DeLuca, who lives in the Country Club section, woke up Tuesday morning to a major headache — her airbag had been ripped out of her car.
It looks like something out of a movie — thieves unlocking cars in seconds without breaking a window or forcing a door. But police say it’s a very real crime trend, and it’s happening in the Bronx.
Christina DeLuca, who lives in the Country Club section, woke up Tuesday morning to a major headache — her airbag had been ripped out of her car.
“It’s annoying. I’m not going to have a vehicle, which I need for work, for a couple of days. It’s going to cost me over $1,000, and who’s not to say that when I get it fixed, they’re not going to come back and do it a couple of weeks from now,” DeLuca said.
This isn’t the first time the Country Club woman's car has been targeted. A couple of months ago, she says someone stole her wallet after she accidentally left her car unlocked.
“After that, my father programmed the vehicle so once I walk away it locks automatically when I take the keys out,” she said.
But this time, detectives told her the thieves used high-tech equipment to clone her key fob’s signal and unlock the car without leaving a trace.
“Because there was no other theft, no other damage, no broken windows — nothing. Like they’re able to clone the key and just unlock the door the way I would,” DeLuca said.
So how does it work? Car key fobs send out radio waves to tell the vehicle to lock or unlock. Thieves can use a small device to capture that signal and trick the car into opening.
“Unfortunately, technology has its pros and cons, and this is a big con because it’s happening all over. But what are you supposed to do when you have your keys inside and the door’s locked?” DeLuca said.
The NYPD says there are ways to protect yourself. You can put your key fob in a Faraday box — a shielded container that blocks the signal — which you can buy online for less than $20. Police also recommend using a steering wheel lock and keeping your fob away from doors and windows.
