It sounds like something out of automotive crime caper 'Gone in 60 Seconds' but it appears tech-savvy car thieves are using sophisticated 'jamming' equipment to steal premium cars without having to resort to breaking windows or jimmying the lock.
According to reports in the Irish Independent, thieves are beginning to use a cheap and freely available jamming device to block out the signals from an owner's key-fob. If used in close enough proximity the device jams the lock signal sent by the owner allowing the thieves to access the open car once the owner has left the area.
Once inside the car the thief connects a key programmer to the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port and reprograms a new key for the car before simply driving away. This hack is made possible because cars sold in Europe must allow unsecured access to OBD codes to allow non-franchised garages to read codes and service cars.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Automobile Association (AA) corporate affairs manager Conor Faughnan said he was aware to the technology being used to steal Irish cars.
"I've heard it has happened here. Using this so-called grabber the thief has to be in your vicinity. As soon as you press your key fob to lock the car, he sends a signal from his device which blocks out your signal."
It is not all bad news though; since 2010 the technology that keyless entry systems use has changed with varying frequencies and constantly changing codes becoming the norm. However if you own a pre-2010 car, and particularly a high-end one, Conor Faughnan has an important piece of advice:
"You should never just lock your car with the key fob and walk away. Always click the handle to make sure it is locked."