According to one local law enforcement agency, “Key Cloner” car thefts are on the rise in Southern California.
The Burbank Police Department issued a press release early Tuesday afternoon. This mainly affects new vehicles that can be started without a key.
“Most new vehicles for sale today are enabled on keyless or remote ignitions,” Burbank police said. “The owner of the vehicle must simply unlock the key FOB nearby and start the vehicle.”
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Authorities say the convenience of being able to actually start a vehicle is complicated by new advances in the technology employed by burglars to steal new cars. Thieves usually use aftermarket devices (usually the size of a mobile phone or small tablet) to utilize keyless entry systems to remotely scan key FOB signals and quickly create cloned keys.
Similar devices can be connected under the car dashboard to download vehicle information. This can be programmed by burglars into blank key fobs, police added.
In the wake of the rise in thefts of “key cloners,” authorities advise residents to be aware of the following advice:
Park in the garage. If possible, consider installing motion sensing lights and video cameras near parking or driveways. Consider storing your key fob in a signal blocking box, such as a Faraday pouch, using traditional steering wheel locks or similar devices.
Anyone who is watching an ongoing crime or witnessing any activity that appears suspicious should immediately call 911.
If the issue is less urgent, call the local police station’s non-emergency telephone number.
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