So ignoring anything on brand, i’ve heard from some colleagues, ex colleagues and contacts about keyless thefts.

 

Obviously the usual theft from services is happening, albeit more quietly. However more worrying is a take on the crash for claims.

 

A few people with company cars have had them stolen this way. One an Audi only a week old.

 

Someone hits your car at low speed and everyone gets out to exchange details. While exchanging details, between the cars, another person comes up to the car opens it, hits start and drives off.

 

Now I would say it was key left in car, but it appears keyless cars are being targeted and at least one still had the key.

 

None of the the cars I have heard about have been found, so I would guess it’s organised.

 

So regardless of which keyless car you have, make sure if this happens you keep close to your door or better still disable keyless and lock the car while exchanging details.

.....straight on to a transporter and stripped for parts I guess.

Edited 14 August, 20187 yr by Ryeman

9 minutes ago, Ryeman said:

.....straight on to a transporter and stripped for parts I guess.

 

I agree that’s most likely. A sad waste of a brand new (or any good) car.

 

One of the drivers I am told isn’t happy driving alone due to this happening.

 

The manufactures that have pushed these system should be made to pay for fixes, even if it’s just retrofit a key ignition.

 

Sad that people are like this, but I guess anywhere there is money for criminals, it will be tried.

Edited 14 August, 20187 yr by cheezemonkhai

It’s probably a sad reality that the insurance companies will be (unknowingly?) using stolen parts for repairs of other vehicles too.

8 hours ago, cheezemonkhai said:

So regardless of which keyless car you have, make sure if this happens you keep close to your door or better still disable keyless and lock the car while exchanging details.

 

Locking the car would work certainly. Not sure it's possible to disable keyless. Certainly in BMWs there is no mechanical lock to start the car with so it's keyless or nothing..

8 hours ago, Ryeman said:

It’s probably a sad reality that the insurance companies will be (unknowingly?) using stolen parts for repairs of other vehicles too.

 

I hadn’t thought of that, although it seems fewer and fewer will use scrap yard parts these days...

 

1 minute ago, Aspman said:

 

Locking the car would work certainly. Not sure it's possible to disable keyless. Certainly in BMWs there is no mechanical lock to start the car with so it's keyless or nothing..

 

Locking didn’t work in at least one case as the key was close enough to the car that it just opened and started.

 

From another thread a combination of touches and plips will temporarily disable keyless entry. Hence the suggestion to lock it that way as you’re staying in range.

So glad my car has a conventional key!!

 

I can see thefts at service stations would be extremely easy. You go to pay and toe rags with the tech jump in and away with a full tank to boot!

4 hours ago, xman said:

So glad my car has a conventional key!!

 

I can see thefts at service stations would be extremely easy. You go to pay and toe rags with the tech jump in and away with a full tank to boot!

 

I hadn’t thought of that....

 

Still with the cost of fuel, drive car a mile away, pump out the contents of the car into a tank and bobs your uncle free fuel.

 

Leave the car to be recovered making sure you didn’t leave any prints/dna in the car or just torch it.

 

 

You do have a point though, smaller services/petrol stations/roadside cafe would be an easy target.

 

13 hours ago, cheezemonkhai said:

 

Locking didn’t work in at least one case as the key was close enough to the car that it just opened and started.

 

 

I thought you could turn off keyless entry though?

19 minutes ago, SuperbTWM said:

I thought you could turn off keyless entry though?

 

On another thread I was told you can temporarily, however when someone runs into your car I guess a lock, touch and wait a few seconds then pull is not top of your list (or any other combination that’s required).

 

In that case they were hit, locked the car normally but I guess because it was keyless and they were close enough someone just got in and drove off.

Edited 15 August, 20187 yr by cheezemonkhai

I wonder if 'comfort access' is disabled by default on UK BMWs.

I don't think my has it.

 

I'll need to check now. I'm sure I have to press a button to unlock and lock the car.

I must be misunderstanding something here, but both of my cars are keyless and if I'm out of the car it won't re-start, but instead displays 'key out of range' on the dashboard. This is the case if the ignition is on or off.

 

In such instances described above has the key code / frequency been somehow cloned / captured??

Edited 16 August, 20187 yr by pinkpanther

@pinkpanther - It depends on the range of the key.

46 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

@pinkpanther - It depends on the range of the key.

Mine showed "key out of range" as I walked around the front of the car to swap drivers, so SWMBO told me. I've seen it say the same when I was a couple of feet away with the driver's door open. So the range is pretty short. 

3 hours ago, KenONeill said:

@pinkpanther - It depends on the range of the key.

Guess my SEAT and Skoda keys don't have the range of an Audi key

 

Seems an odd thing to design a system with such a range, As said previously my experience is if the key fob is not within the car (including the boot) it simply refuses to start / switch on the ignition.

 

I've tried switching on the ignition when the key is outside the car and nothing doing - either with my 2017 SEAT, or 2014 Skoda.

I have an Autowatch Ghost fitted which gives me some peace of mind. As long as the car is switched off, it doesn't matter if you leave the keys int he car or some sort of proximity remote start device is used, you can't put the car into gear without it cutting out. 

Comfort access definitely off on my car. If I got a bump and was out of the car if I failed to lock it and I was in range then a ne'er-do-well could probably nick the car.

 

But If I lock it he's doing nothing. Also the car has a built in SIM and GPS which can be tracked.

My Jaguar won't let me start the car if the key isn't physically in the car. Even if I'm right outside the door it tells me "smart key not found in vehicle"

 

No deterrent for thieves now adays. Even if they are caught they will probably end up with a suspended sentence at best.

On 16/08/2018 at 14:26, pinkpanther said:

I must be misunderstanding something here, but both of my cars are keyless and if I'm out of the car it won't re-start, but instead displays 'key out of range' on the dashboard. This is the case if the ignition is on or off.

 

In such instances described above has the key code / frequency been somehow cloned / captured??

 

On 16/08/2018 at 14:56, KenONeill said:

@pinkpanther - It depends on the range of the key.

 

So afer a chat with the person who first mention this..

 

One person said they were giving details by the boot, another by the side of the other car. Perhaps a relay device was there.

 

One of the other isn’t wholly the fault of keyless though. When you’re in a keyless car you have to put they key somewhere. Such as your bag... The bag that was still in the car when exchanging details.

 

Keyless just made it too quick to try to stop in that instance.

 

As for range, I think it depends on the car, but clearly if the amplifiers are as  cheap as it looks, and it’s planned then one person could relay it over the few feet between the car and the owner.

 

What ever happened to remote or keyless entry, then physically pushing a key into a slot like the r57 mini? Surely that or a physical ignition key are a good compromise combined with ability to permanently, one off or timer disable keyless?

Edited 19 August, 20187 yr by cheezemonkhai