A new type of theft!

Nov 11, 2009
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Nov 6, 2005
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Seems nothing is safe any more? I think we need stricter identity checks in the UK. No wonder the cost of goods is increasing. Interesting article. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj41jd0krkro

On the same vein https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74jgvp1x49o
The problem is all the people that buy on price - whether it's "a bloke down the pub" or an internet auction site - too many people can't get their head round the simple principle that if it's cheap it's either sub-standard or stolen.

Keyless cars were a solution to a problem that didn't exist - I'm glad I stuck to principles and specified NOT to have keyless on my then new car - but that's often not an option on new cars now.
 
Jan 3, 2012
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My new car is keyless entry but i always put my keys after use in a faraday pouch so it should block a signal
 
Jul 18, 2017
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My new car is keyless entry but i always put my keys after use in a faraday pouch so it should block a signal
Sadly it seems that is no longer as effective as it used to be? Quality is at the forefront to prevent leakage, but the one thing that I did not know is that they should be changed regularly as apparently the "seal" can break down after awhile so be careful. Are your spare keys also in a Faraday pouch? Mine are in a Faraday pouch which is in a tin and at the rear of the home.
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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After reading the article I mentioned keyless theft to my wife and said I might buy a RFID box to replace the old tin on the sideboard. It’s been there 3-4 years and isn’t liked. A few minutes later she came down stairs and handed me a packet and said “ early happy birthday”. She’d bought me a RFID box plus wallets for my birthday in a weeks time.
 

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JTQ

May 7, 2005
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I have gone with the CR3032s that go to sleep, courtesy of LR. Plus a heavier pouch than the Lidl one I had.

Glad somebody else paid for these batteries as when I checked my heart almost stopped.

But as a concept I think it, or anything that would "switch off" these wireless keys would remove a large part of the thief's opportunities.

Why don't the car fobs have an "arm" on off button?
My keyless Honda motorcycle has. The attributes of keyless without the associated risk when it's not needed.
 
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Jul 18, 2017
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Every now and then I go to the car with the keys in the RFID wallet to test on its effectiveness. No issues so far even with the wallet pressed against the car door.
 
Jul 18, 2017
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Come back the dissy rotor all is forgiven 😄😄
In my 1963 Cortina I used to remove the rotor at night as it was a high risk car. At a later stage I had a 1982 Passat company car brand new out of the box. I went to fill up with fuel and the attendant asked why I did not have a rear window. The window was lying inside the car.

Foolishly I had left an small battered looking school case in the back with a pair of boots that needed new soles. Obviously they saw the case and decided it was worth stealing. At the time we were staying in an affluent area while on a holiday break.

As my return journey was 6 hours drive away I had to get the window fixed before returning home. Luckily the garage where I was re-fuelling was a VW dealership.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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I have gone with the CR3032s that go to sleep, courtesy of LR. Plus a heavier pouch than the Lidl one I had.

Glad somebody else paid for these batteries as when I checked my heart almost stopped.

But as a concept I think it, or anything that would "switch off" these wireless keys would remove a large part of the thief's opportunities.

Why don't the car fobs have an "arm" on off button?
My keyless Honda motorcycle has. The attributes of keyless without the associated risk when it's not needed.
My RAV4 fobs can be put to sleep, and reawaken when next used. I can now anticipate the next raft of posts. 🙈
 
Nov 17, 2025
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Land Rover did a recall of keys recently and allegedly have now put a super spy proof battery in my fobs which are now safe from poachers. Hmm.
 

JTQ

May 7, 2005
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Land Rover did a recall of keys recently and allegedly have now put a super spy proof battery in my fobs which are now safe from poachers. Hmm.
Ours, the run out proper Discovery, the 4, was within a recalled tranche.
However, having its roots in earlier times its keyless system could not have the firmware update some of their products also got. Therefore, I was sent two "sleeping" batteries.
Logically to me if you remove the fob giving a signal when one is not needed, that has to massively reduce the opportunities to clone it. Leaving the thieves the challenges of working on systems grabbing the signal whilst I go in and out of fuel stations, car parks and home. Which has to afford them a very low percentage of the time available to clone, and require practically more portable kit.
My RAV4 fobs can be put to sleep, and reawaken when next used. I can now anticipate the next raft of posts.
That to me seems so logical a concept and has to be so technically simple, odd it never dawned on the designers of my earlier keyless system, some it probably did.
Pity JLR when the penny dropped did not bite the bullet and reissue new fobs with an "on off" feature. It's not that they they didn't need some better publicity in this keyless vehicle theft issue.
 
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Jul 18, 2017
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The main thrust of my original post was about the haulage companies. The key fob thing is old hat and has already been discussed in depth. Theft from HGV / trucks makes car theft pale into insignificance!
 

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