Hi guys

Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else, or am I actually going mad?

Last night my 2012 Superb was broken into, ipod taken from the central storage box, they also took an iphone charger and a tub of chewing gum (!?)

But Im baffled - there was no damage on the car, and I am 100% certain I locked it with a single click on the fob last night - the car beeped and the indicators flashed as normal. I always always lock my car by reflex when I get out (in fact, its so automatic that I sometimes lock my girlfriend in the car without realising!).

This morning, when I clicked unlock on the fob, the lights flashed and the solenoids clunked as normal, so it was definitely locked when I came out of the house.

I only realised that something was wrong when I couldnt find my charger and then found the ipod had gone.

The police said theyve recently had a load of people in the Manchester area reporting similar mysterious break-ins from people who were sure their cars were locked.

So, what the blimey is going on? Am I going mad and didnt actually lock it, or is it possible for low-lifes to somehow electronically break in if theyve got a some kind of scanner or fob-cloning gizmo?

Also, if they can unlock my car that easily, can they now steal it?

All advice gratefully received!

Cheers

Adam

did you lock your house? if not burglar could have came in took the keys unlocked the car stole the stuff locked it and put the keys back in the house and make off

did you lock your house? if not burglar could have came in took the keys unlocked the car stole the stuff locked it and put the keys back in the house and make off

what a honest thief, they would actually put the keys back? How very thoughtful :think:

More likely this is what has been happening

or a variation of it.

Also, if they can unlock my car that easily, can they now steal it?

All advice gratefully received!

Cheers

Adam

In a word, (as far as I know) NO. Because the engine immobiliser is separate from the locking system.

My alarm goes off whether the car is being broken into or not

Heard of this with some Audi's but not a Skoda

what a honest thief, they would actually put the keys back? How very thoughtful :think:

maybe he was only looking for an ipod, who knows there are many explanations and i decided to use mine

Check that all of your doors lock as expected. It has been known for a door lock to fail and you don't notice as you don't go around the car checking all of the handles, so you lock the car hear the clunks, see indicator blinks but don't realise the back nearside door has not actually locked. Along comes an opportunistic tea leaf checking car doors as he gos and low and behold your door opens.

Having said that the alarm should still have sounded.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. House was thoroughly locked up so it wasn't a considerate scumbag, and I checked that all the doors are locking and they are, so I'm still stumped!

My Superb was entered during a car ferry journey - nothing taken - and the only reason we knew at all was from some grubby marks on the ivory driver's seat. In fact, I didn't discover the marks until I reached the hotel, because all looked OK. I'm convinced that the marks came from those reflective tabards the loading staff wear as it was greasy. It definitely wasn't from my clothing. I couldn't explain it then, still can't, other than to say that I can't see any method other than electronic scanning would have left no trace.

Ray

I went to a Police presentation of the results of crime, it was an Audi S3, smashed up after barrel rolling three times, it was a stolen car and the Police were pursuing, the car was an absolute wreck.

Anyway, I asked the copper, how was it stolen? Was it with the keys? He answered no, he told me that the modern cars are immobilised electronically and the thieves have adapted TV remote controllers (or similar) to emit random signals in a known range that cars use, once the indicator lights flash or the interior light comes on they are in, once in the car is easily driven off.

He went on to add, a car with a start button is easiest to steal because once open the thief only needs to push the button and off he goes.

This is what I was told, however I do have my doubts, WDYT?

Sorry to hear about your plight.

I have several different TV Disc player and audio system hand units, I will try and find the frequency they work on, if you do a vin check on your vehicles the frequency range is given, it is possible that your info was correct.

I have several different TV Disc player and audio system hand units, I will try and find the frequency they work on, if you do a vin check on your vehicles the frequency range is given, it is possible that your info was correct.

If it is true then this is quite scary, we are right back to the old days where you could steal a Ford with a teaspoon. (not that I did)

I had a 2004 BMW 3 Series, everytime I locked or unlocked it, next doors door bell would ring

Cheers guys for the replies, Im relieved its not just me that its happened to - Im sane after all! Sounds like I was possibly the victim of a git with an 'adapted remote control'; Audi and Skoda are both part of VAG so very probably share electronic systems?

Still at least they aren't smashing windows to get in, I'll just have to not leave anything of value in the car from now on. Scumbags.

Oh and I like the neighbours door bell story - they must have loved you!

He went on to add, a car with a start button is easiest to steal because once open the thief only needs to push the button and off he goes.

This is what I was told, however I do have my doubts, WDYT?

As far as I know, it is easier to get in, than to drive away. Both keys and car smartcards contain Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips. The chip needs to be readable to the immobiliser before the engine will start. This requires the chip to be within 2 or 3 metres of the car.

Time to start leaving a packet of chewing gum laced with strong laxative in the glove box.

If you can't beat 'em, might as well make them as uncomfortable as possible.

It's because of this stuff that I wouldn't want a car with KESSY. No electronics are secure. Wireless ones even less so.

However, my old Passat had a problem with one rear door lock. I noticed that sometimes when I locked it, I heard the clunk, but the lights didn't flash. I thought nothing of it. Months later, I discovered that one rear door wasn't locking. Fortunately, nothing happened in that time, but after I discovered it, I repeatedly locked and unlocked until I got the flash.

There is an issue with BMW's and wireless door bells each setting each other off.

There is something close to me which has the same frequency as my door bell as it goes off every now and then with no-one there

I've read somewhere, that thieves block the signal from our key fob and door never got locked - the car flashes, everything seems normal but this little tiny detail... That's why I always check and make sure that the door got locked properly

I think the car clunks and flashes the lights even if it were unlocked. I'll try it in a bit.

It's not TV remotes, they used infra red not radio waves at 433MHz. Some wireless doorbells have been used to block the signals from your key, but the lights don't flash on locking when they use this blocking method. It works because the car never receives the signal from your key, so how would it flash the lights? It relies on you not noticing the lights don't flash.

It's because of this stuff that I wouldn't want a car with KESSY. No electronics are secure. Wireless ones even less so.

Not sure why Kessy is more vunerable. I do not have to press the key fob to gain entry which is how the thieves appear to be latching on to the radio signals.

Also car cannot be driven without key in car so they would have to have a device that continually transmits.

Agree it's easier to start if you are in and you can fool the electronics that you have a key in the car.

I like Kessy (not the price, however) and will take it again on my car car for the sheer convenience.

my old Octavia had a problem with the front passenger door, it wouldn't lock when i pushed the lock button on the fob, the little pop up bit on the door itself would go down when the lock button was pressed but it would pop up again within a second, so you had to push the lock button again and it would lock, this is one of the downsides on the superb, there are no pop up bits to let you know if the doors are actually locked.

It's why I always check each door.

Doesn't the car flash then immediately unlock if a door is unable to lock? I know my mondeo did

As far as I know, it is easier to get in, than to drive away. Both keys and car smartcards contain Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips. The chip needs to be readable to the immobiliser before the engine will start. This requires the chip to be within 2 or 3 metres of the car.

Just an FYI, on entering your superb it would take me about 30 seconds to re-program another fob to your car to overcome this.

Cheers

Steve