High-tech car thieves exploit security gaps

Thieves are finding fresh ways around technology designed to keep them out of cars. They’ve figured out a way to amplify the signal sent by your car’s key fob to unlock the doors, reports CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers.

Surveillance movie shows the ease with which this troubling, hig-tech break-in technology can be put into practice. In Chicago, a man walked up to a car without a key, opened the door with ease and hopped right in. Three minutes later, he exited and walked away.

“The knee-jerk reaction was for me to be angry,” Mike Shin said.

Shin was angry because he wields that car, and said he’s diligent about locking it up.

“It’s just a little unnerving that they could so lightly just walk into my car without any recourse, without truly anybody noticing,” he said.

At a loss for what happened, Shin posted his movie online and learned of seventy eight similar car break-ins within one mile of his home.

He said the police were just as confused as he was.

“They looked at my footage and were like, ‘we have absolutely no idea what this is, we’ve never even heard of it. This is the very first we’re ever even eyeing of it.'”

These mysterious break-ins have been baffling law enforcement and insurance companies across North America and Europe for years.

“It seems like we’ve come up with something fresh every week or two. Some kind of device or allegations about something that could open a car and or embark a car,” National Insurance Crime Bureau chief communications officer Roger Morris said.

In Long Beach, California, two guys with a petite box in their mitts were able to effortlessly break into car, and in Sausalito, California, a man stole a $15,000 bicycle out of the back of another. The alarm was again disabled by a mystery device.

Reports of stolen vehicles are down sharply from the 1990s — from 1.7 million per year, to around 700,000.

Over the years, car manufacturers have taken superb strides to make their cars more secure, developing technology like these keyless entry systems to deter criminals, but as the technology advanced, thieves have become more creative in how they break in.

“They can walk up literally with what shows up to be a cigarette pack,” Morris said.

He said little is known about the devices or exactly how they work, but he believes they confuse keyless entry cars into thinking the fob is nearby, amplifying the signal it emits or hacking into the system.

“The hackers are very good. The car thieves are very good. They can’t go in and hotwire a car today like they used to. So, what do they do? They attempt the next best thing,” Morris said.

Many can be assembled through parts ordered cheaply online. Devices confiscated by police in Texas were evidently modified from gadgets purchased on eBay.

And while protecting against these attacks is difficult, Morris said constant vigilance helps.

“Make sure that you lock that car up. Take your key or fob with you. Never leave the fob inwards or near the car and do the best you can,” Morris said.

There are ways to prevent this from happening to you. Keep your keys in any metal container — even a freezer. The metal blocks any signal sent to or from the fob, effectively disabling it.

© two thousand fifteen CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

High-tech car thieves may be violating in by amplifying key fob signal – CBS News

High-tech car thieves exploit security gaps

Thieves are finding fresh ways around technology designed to keep them out of cars. They’ve figured out a way to amplify the signal sent by your car’s key fob to unlock the doors, reports CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers.

Surveillance movie shows the ease with which this troubling, hig-tech break-in mechanism can be put into practice. In Chicago, a man walked up to a car without a key, opened the door with ease and hopped right in. Three minutes later, he exited and walked away.

“The knee-jerk reaction was for me to be angry,” Mike Shin said.

Shin was angry because he possesses that car, and said he’s diligent about locking it up.

“It’s just a little unnerving that they could so lightly just walk into my car without any recourse, without indeed anybody noticing,” he said.

At a loss for what happened, Shin posted his movie online and learned of seventy eight similar car break-ins within one mile of his home.

He said the police were just as confused as he was.

“They looked at my footage and were like, ‘we have absolutely no idea what this is, we’ve never even heard of it. This is the very first we’re ever even witnessing of it.'”

These mysterious break-ins have been baffling law enforcement and insurance companies across North America and Europe for years.

“It seems like we’ve come up with something fresh every week or two. Some kind of device or allegations about something that could open a car and or begin a car,” National Insurance Crime Bureau chief communications officer Roger Morris said.

In Long Beach, California, two dudes with a puny box in their mitts were able to effortlessly break into car, and in Sausalito, California, a man stole a $15,000 bicycle out of the back of another. The alarm was again disabled by a mystery device.

Reports of stolen vehicles are down sharply from the 1990s — from 1.7 million per year, to around 700,000.

Over the years, car manufacturers have taken fine strides to make their cars more secure, developing technology like these keyless entry systems to deter criminals, but as the technology advanced, thieves have become more creative in how they break in.

“They can walk up literally with what emerges to be a cigarette pack,” Morris said.

He said little is known about the devices or exactly how they work, but he believes they confuse keyless entry cars into thinking the fob is nearby, amplifying the signal it emits or hacking into the system.

“The hackers are very good. The car thieves are very good. They can’t go in and hotwire a car today like they used to. So, what do they do? They attempt the next best thing,” Morris said.

Many can be assembled through parts ordered cheaply online. Devices confiscated by police in Texas were evidently modified from gadgets purchased on eBay.

And while protecting against these attacks is difficult, Morris said constant vigilance helps.

“Make sure that you lock that car up. Take your key or fob with you. Never leave the fob inwards or near the car and do the best you can,” Morris said.

There are ways to prevent this from happening to you. Keep your keys in any metal container — even a freezer. The metal blocks any signal sent to or from the fob, effectively disabling it.

© two thousand fifteen CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

High-tech car thieves may be cracking in by amplifying key fob signal – CBS News

High-tech car thieves exploit security gaps

Thieves are finding fresh ways around technology designed to keep them out of cars. They’ve figured out a way to amplify the signal sent by your car’s key fob to unlock the doors, reports CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers.

Surveillance movie shows the ease with which this troubling, hig-tech break-in mechanism can be put into practice. In Chicago, a man walked up to a car without a key, opened the door with ease and hopped right in. Three minutes later, he exited and walked away.

“The knee-jerk reaction was for me to be angry,” Mike Shin said.

Shin was angry because he wields that car, and said he’s diligent about locking it up.

“It’s just a little unnerving that they could so lightly just walk into my car without any recourse, without truly anybody noticing,” he said.

At a loss for what happened, Shin posted his movie online and learned of seventy eight similar car break-ins within one mile of his home.

He said the police were just as confused as he was.

“They looked at my footage and were like, ‘we have absolutely no idea what this is, we’ve never even heard of it. This is the very first we’re ever even observing of it.'”

These mysterious break-ins have been baffling law enforcement and insurance companies across North America and Europe for years.

“It seems like we’ve come up with something fresh every week or two. Some kind of device or allegations about something that could open a car and or begin a car,” National Insurance Crime Bureau chief communications officer Roger Morris said.

In Long Beach, California, two guys with a petite box in their forearms were able to effortlessly break into car, and in Sausalito, California, a man stole a $15,000 bicycle out of the back of another. The alarm was again disabled by a mystery device.

Reports of stolen vehicles are down sharply from the 1990s — from 1.7 million per year, to around 700,000.

Over the years, car manufacturers have taken fine strides to make their cars more secure, developing technology like these keyless entry systems to deter criminals, but as the technology advanced, thieves have become more creative in how they break in.

“They can walk up literally with what emerges to be a cigarette pack,” Morris said.

He said little is known about the devices or exactly how they work, but he believes they confuse keyless entry cars into thinking the fob is nearby, amplifying the signal it emits or hacking into the system.

“The hackers are very good. The car thieves are very good. They can’t go in and hotwire a car today like they used to. So, what do they do? They attempt the next best thing,” Morris said.

Many can be assembled through parts ordered cheaply online. Devices confiscated by police in Texas were evidently modified from gadgets purchased on eBay.

And while protecting against these attacks is difficult, Morris said constant vigilance helps.

“Make sure that you lock that car up. Take your key or fob with you. Never leave the fob inwards or near the car and do the best you can,” Morris said.

There are ways to prevent this from happening to you. Keep your keys in any metal container — even a freezer. The metal blocks any signal sent to or from the fob, effectively disabling it.

© two thousand fifteen CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

High-tech car thieves may be violating in by amplifying key fob signal – CBS News

High-tech car thieves exploit security gaps

Thieves are finding fresh ways around technology designed to keep them out of cars. They’ve figured out a way to amplify the signal sent by your car’s key fob to unlock the doors, reports CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers.

Surveillance movie shows the ease with which this troubling, hig-tech break-in mechanism can be put into practice. In Chicago, a man walked up to a car without a key, opened the door with ease and hopped right in. Three minutes later, he exited and walked away.

“The knee-jerk reaction was for me to be angry,” Mike Shin said.

Shin was angry because he possesses that car, and said he’s diligent about locking it up.

“It’s just a little unnerving that they could so lightly just walk into my car without any recourse, without truly anybody noticing,” he said.

At a loss for what happened, Shin posted his movie online and learned of seventy eight similar car break-ins within one mile of his home.

He said the police were just as confused as he was.

“They looked at my footage and were like, ‘we have absolutely no idea what this is, we’ve never even heard of it. This is the very first we’re ever even observing of it.'”

These mysterious break-ins have been baffling law enforcement and insurance companies across North America and Europe for years.

“It seems like we’ve come up with something fresh every week or two. Some kind of device or allegations about something that could open a car and or commence a car,” National Insurance Crime Bureau chief communications officer Roger Morris said.

In Long Beach, California, two dudes with a puny box in their mitts were able to effortlessly break into car, and in Sausalito, California, a man stole a $15,000 bicycle out of the back of another. The alarm was again disabled by a mystery device.

Reports of stolen vehicles are down sharply from the 1990s — from 1.7 million per year, to around 700,000.

Over the years, car manufacturers have taken good strides to make their cars more secure, developing technology like these keyless entry systems to deter criminals, but as the technology advanced, thieves have become more creative in how they break in.

“They can walk up literally with what shows up to be a cigarette pack,” Morris said.

He said little is known about the devices or exactly how they work, but he believes they confuse keyless entry cars into thinking the fob is nearby, amplifying the signal it emits or hacking into the system.

“The hackers are very good. The car thieves are very good. They can’t go in and hotwire a car today like they used to. So, what do they do? They attempt the next best thing,” Morris said.

Many can be assembled through parts ordered cheaply online. Devices confiscated by police in Texas were evidently modified from gadgets purchased on eBay.

And while protecting against these attacks is difficult, Morris said constant vigilance helps.

“Make sure that you lock that car up. Take your key or fob with you. Never leave the fob inwards or near the car and do the best you can,” Morris said.

There are ways to prevent this from happening to you. Keep your keys in any metal container — even a freezer. The metal blocks any signal sent to or from the fob, effectively disabling it.

© two thousand fifteen CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

High-tech car thieves may be cracking in by amplifying key fob signal – CBS News

High-tech car thieves exploit security gaps

Thieves are finding fresh ways around technology designed to keep them out of cars. They’ve figured out a way to amplify the signal sent by your car’s key fob to unlock the doors, reports CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers.

Surveillance movie shows the ease with which this troubling, hig-tech break-in technology can be put into practice. In Chicago, a man walked up to a car without a key, opened the door with ease and hopped right in. Three minutes later, he exited and walked away.

“The knee-jerk reaction was for me to be angry,” Mike Shin said.

Shin was angry because he wields that car, and said he’s diligent about locking it up.

“It’s just a little unnerving that they could so lightly just walk into my car without any recourse, without indeed anybody noticing,” he said.

At a loss for what happened, Shin posted his movie online and learned of seventy eight similar car break-ins within one mile of his home.

He said the police were just as confused as he was.

“They looked at my footage and were like, ‘we have absolutely no idea what this is, we’ve never even heard of it. This is the very first we’re ever even witnessing of it.'”

These mysterious break-ins have been baffling law enforcement and insurance companies across North America and Europe for years.

“It seems like we’ve come up with something fresh every week or two. Some kind of device or allegations about something that could open a car and or embark a car,” National Insurance Crime Bureau chief communications officer Roger Morris said.

In Long Beach, California, two dudes with a petite box in their mitts were able to effortlessly break into car, and in Sausalito, California, a man stole a $15,000 bicycle out of the back of another. The alarm was again disabled by a mystery device.

Reports of stolen vehicles are down sharply from the 1990s — from 1.7 million per year, to around 700,000.

Over the years, car manufacturers have taken good strides to make their cars more secure, developing technology like these keyless entry systems to deter criminals, but as the technology advanced, thieves have become more creative in how they break in.

“They can walk up literally with what emerges to be a cigarette pack,” Morris said.

He said little is known about the devices or exactly how they work, but he believes they confuse keyless entry cars into thinking the fob is nearby, amplifying the signal it emits or hacking into the system.

“The hackers are very good. The car thieves are very good. They can’t go in and hotwire a car today like they used to. So, what do they do? They attempt the next best thing,” Morris said.

Many can be assembled through parts ordered cheaply online. Devices confiscated by police in Texas were evidently modified from gadgets purchased on eBay.

And while protecting against these attacks is difficult, Morris said constant vigilance helps.

“Make sure that you lock that car up. Take your key or fob with you. Never leave the fob inwards or near the car and do the best you can,” Morris said.

There are ways to prevent this from happening to you. Keep your keys in any metal container — even a freezer. The metal blocks any signal sent to or from the fob, effectively disabling it.

High-tech car thieves may be violating in by amplifying key fob signal – CBS News

High-tech car thieves exploit security gaps

Thieves are finding fresh ways around technology designed to keep them out of cars. They’ve figured out a way to amplify the signal sent by your car’s key fob to unlock the doors, reports CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers.

Surveillance movie shows the ease with which this troubling, hig-tech break-in technology can be put into practice. In Chicago, a man walked up to a car without a key, opened the door with ease and hopped right in. Three minutes later, he exited and walked away.

“The knee-jerk reaction was for me to be angry,” Mike Shin said.

Shin was angry because he wields that car, and said he’s diligent about locking it up.

“It’s just a little unnerving that they could so lightly just walk into my car without any recourse, without indeed anybody noticing,” he said.

At a loss for what happened, Shin posted his movie online and learned of seventy eight similar car break-ins within one mile of his home.

He said the police were just as confused as he was.

“They looked at my footage and were like, ‘we have absolutely no idea what this is, we’ve never even heard of it. This is the very first we’re ever even witnessing of it.'”

These mysterious break-ins have been baffling law enforcement and insurance companies across North America and Europe for years.

“It seems like we’ve come up with something fresh every week or two. Some kind of device or allegations about something that could open a car and or embark a car,” National Insurance Crime Bureau chief communications officer Roger Morris said.

In Long Beach, California, two dudes with a petite box in their arms were able to effortlessly break into car, and in Sausalito, California, a man stole a $15,000 bicycle out of the back of another. The alarm was again disabled by a mystery device.

Reports of stolen vehicles are down sharply from the 1990s — from 1.7 million per year, to around 700,000.

Over the years, car manufacturers have taken good strides to make their cars more secure, developing technology like these keyless entry systems to deter criminals, but as the technology advanced, thieves have become more creative in how they break in.

“They can walk up literally with what shows up to be a cigarette pack,” Morris said.

He said little is known about the devices or exactly how they work, but he believes they confuse keyless entry cars into thinking the fob is nearby, amplifying the signal it emits or hacking into the system.

“The hackers are very good. The car thieves are very good. They can’t go in and hotwire a car today like they used to. So, what do they do? They attempt the next best thing,” Morris said.

Many can be assembled through parts ordered cheaply online. Devices confiscated by police in Texas were evidently modified from gadgets purchased on eBay.

And while protecting against these attacks is difficult, Morris said constant vigilance helps.

“Make sure that you lock that car up. Take your key or fob with you. Never leave the fob inwards or near the car and do the best you can,” Morris said.

There are ways to prevent this from happening to you. Keep your keys in any metal container — even a freezer. The metal blocks any signal sent to or from the fob, effectively disabling it.

© two thousand fifteen CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

High-tech car thieves may be cracking in by amplifying key fob signal – CBS News

High-tech car thieves exploit security gaps

Thieves are finding fresh ways around technology designed to keep them out of cars. They’ve figured out a way to amplify the signal sent by your car’s key fob to unlock the doors, reports CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers.

Surveillance movie shows the ease with which this troubling, hig-tech break-in mechanism can be put into practice. In Chicago, a man walked up to a car without a key, opened the door with ease and hopped right in. Three minutes later, he exited and walked away.

“The knee-jerk reaction was for me to be angry,” Mike Shin said.

Shin was angry because he possesses that car, and said he’s diligent about locking it up.

“It’s just a little unnerving that they could so lightly just walk into my car without any recourse, without truly anybody noticing,” he said.

At a loss for what happened, Shin posted his movie online and learned of seventy eight similar car break-ins within one mile of his home.

He said the police were just as confused as he was.

“They looked at my footage and were like, ‘we have absolutely no idea what this is, we’ve never even heard of it. This is the very first we’re ever even observing of it.'”

These mysterious break-ins have been baffling law enforcement and insurance companies across North America and Europe for years.

“It seems like we’ve come up with something fresh every week or two. Some kind of device or allegations about something that could open a car and or begin a car,” National Insurance Crime Bureau chief communications officer Roger Morris said.

In Long Beach, California, two dudes with a puny box in their mitts were able to effortlessly break into car, and in Sausalito, California, a man stole a $15,000 bicycle out of the back of another. The alarm was again disabled by a mystery device.

Reports of stolen vehicles are down sharply from the 1990s — from 1.7 million per year, to around 700,000.

Over the years, car manufacturers have taken excellent strides to make their cars more secure, developing technology like these keyless entry systems to deter criminals, but as the technology advanced, thieves have become more creative in how they break in.

“They can walk up literally with what emerges to be a cigarette pack,” Morris said.

He said little is known about the devices or exactly how they work, but he believes they confuse keyless entry cars into thinking the fob is nearby, amplifying the signal it emits or hacking into the system.

“The hackers are very good. The car thieves are very good. They can’t go in and hotwire a car today like they used to. So, what do they do? They attempt the next best thing,” Morris said.

Many can be assembled through parts ordered cheaply online. Devices confiscated by police in Texas were evidently modified from gadgets purchased on eBay.

And while protecting against these attacks is difficult, Morris said constant vigilance helps.

“Make sure that you lock that car up. Take your key or fob with you. Never leave the fob inwards or near the car and do the best you can,” Morris said.

There are ways to prevent this from happening to you. Keep your keys in any metal container — even a freezer. The metal blocks any signal sent to or from the fob, effectively disabling it.

© two thousand fifteen CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

High-tech car thieves may be cracking in by amplifying key fob signal – CBS News

High-tech car thieves exploit security gaps

Thieves are finding fresh ways around technology designed to keep them out of cars. They’ve figured out a way to amplify the signal sent by your car’s key fob to unlock the doors, reports CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers.

Surveillance movie shows the ease with which this troubling, hig-tech break-in mechanism can be put into practice. In Chicago, a man walked up to a car without a key, opened the door with ease and hopped right in. Three minutes later, he exited and walked away.

“The knee-jerk reaction was for me to be angry,” Mike Shin said.

Shin was angry because he wields that car, and said he’s diligent about locking it up.

“It’s just a little unnerving that they could so lightly just walk into my car without any recourse, without indeed anybody noticing,” he said.

At a loss for what happened, Shin posted his movie online and learned of seventy eight similar car break-ins within one mile of his home.

He said the police were just as confused as he was.

“They looked at my footage and were like, ‘we have absolutely no idea what this is, we’ve never even heard of it. This is the very first we’re ever even eyeing of it.'”

These mysterious break-ins have been baffling law enforcement and insurance companies across North America and Europe for years.

“It seems like we’ve come up with something fresh every week or two. Some kind of device or allegations about something that could open a car and or embark a car,” National Insurance Crime Bureau chief communications officer Roger Morris said.

In Long Beach, California, two guys with a petite box in their mitts were able to effortlessly break into car, and in Sausalito, California, a man stole a $15,000 bicycle out of the back of another. The alarm was again disabled by a mystery device.

Reports of stolen vehicles are down sharply from the 1990s — from 1.7 million per year, to around 700,000.

Over the years, car manufacturers have taken superb strides to make their cars more secure, developing technology like these keyless entry systems to deter criminals, but as the technology advanced, thieves have become more creative in how they break in.

“They can walk up literally with what shows up to be a cigarette pack,” Morris said.

He said little is known about the devices or exactly how they work, but he believes they confuse keyless entry cars into thinking the fob is nearby, amplifying the signal it emits or hacking into the system.

“The hackers are very good. The car thieves are very good. They can’t go in and hotwire a car today like they used to. So, what do they do? They attempt the next best thing,” Morris said.

Many can be assembled through parts ordered cheaply online. Devices confiscated by police in Texas were evidently modified from gadgets purchased on eBay.

And while protecting against these attacks is difficult, Morris said constant vigilance helps.

“Make sure that you lock that car up. Take your key or fob with you. Never leave the fob inwards or near the car and do the best you can,” Morris said.

There are ways to prevent this from happening to you. Keep your keys in any metal container — even a freezer. The metal blocks any signal sent to or from the fob, effectively disabling it.

High-tech car thieves may be cracking in by amplifying key fob signal – CBS News

High-tech car thieves exploit security gaps

Thieves are finding fresh ways around technology designed to keep them out of cars. They’ve figured out a way to amplify the signal sent by your car’s key fob to unlock the doors, reports CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers.

Surveillance movie shows the ease with which this troubling, hig-tech break-in mechanism can be put into practice. In Chicago, a man walked up to a car without a key, opened the door with ease and hopped right in. Three minutes later, he exited and walked away.

“The knee-jerk reaction was for me to be angry,” Mike Shin said.

Shin was angry because he possesses that car, and said he’s diligent about locking it up.

“It’s just a little unnerving that they could so lightly just walk into my car without any recourse, without truly anybody noticing,” he said.

At a loss for what happened, Shin posted his movie online and learned of seventy eight similar car break-ins within one mile of his home.

He said the police were just as confused as he was.

“They looked at my footage and were like, ‘we have absolutely no idea what this is, we’ve never even heard of it. This is the very first we’re ever even observing of it.'”

These mysterious break-ins have been baffling law enforcement and insurance companies across North America and Europe for years.

“It seems like we’ve come up with something fresh every week or two. Some kind of device or allegations about something that could open a car and or begin a car,” National Insurance Crime Bureau chief communications officer Roger Morris said.

In Long Beach, California, two studs with a puny box in their arms were able to effortlessly break into car, and in Sausalito, California, a man stole a $15,000 bicycle out of the back of another. The alarm was again disabled by a mystery device.

Reports of stolen vehicles are down sharply from the 1990s — from 1.7 million per year, to around 700,000.

Over the years, car manufacturers have taken fine strides to make their cars more secure, developing technology like these keyless entry systems to deter criminals, but as the technology advanced, thieves have become more creative in how they break in.

“They can walk up literally with what shows up to be a cigarette pack,” Morris said.

He said little is known about the devices or exactly how they work, but he believes they confuse keyless entry cars into thinking the fob is nearby, amplifying the signal it emits or hacking into the system.

“The hackers are very good. The car thieves are very good. They can’t go in and hotwire a car today like they used to. So, what do they do? They attempt the next best thing,” Morris said.

Many can be assembled through parts ordered cheaply online. Devices confiscated by police in Texas were evidently modified from gadgets purchased on eBay.

And while protecting against these attacks is difficult, Morris said constant vigilance helps.

“Make sure that you lock that car up. Take your key or fob with you. Never leave the fob inwards or near the car and do the best you can,” Morris said.

There are ways to prevent this from happening to you. Keep your keys in any metal container — even a freezer. The metal blocks any signal sent to or from the fob, effectively disabling it.

© two thousand fifteen CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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