Keyless Cars May Not Be as Secure as Drivers Think

Eydens Auto Locksmiths warns of growing risks to keyless vehicle security

Coventry, England, United Kingdom, June 30, 2026 -- Keyless fobs are now commonplace, with the majority of modern cars being opened with an electronic fob, which activates the locks and can also be used to start the engine. These keys are fitted with batteries and transponders that communicate with the vehicle and deactivate locks.

Eydens Auto Locksmiths and Vehicle Security, an experienced independent team of specialist auto locksmiths and security advisers, has noted that sharp rises in car thefts and robberies of personal items are largely attributed to the ever more sophisticated techniques criminals use to bypass these fobs.

From signal cloning to relay attacks, there are an increasing number of ways keyless fobs can be bypassed or copied, which is why drivers are being warned to take extra precautions to ensure their vehicles and belongings don’t become targets.

The Changes in Vehicular Theft Techniques

Criminals once used to hotwire cars and bypass locks by prising open the locking mechanism from outside the door or by smashing windows. While all of these issues can occur, it is far more common for thieves to target higher-value cars or modern vehicles, either to steal the car itself or to access belongings such as wallets, phones, and other personal items left inside.

Relay thefts have become very common because criminals can exploit the transponders and the signals they emit from inside the fob, which is less obvious than forcing entry and often means the theft isn’t noticed for some time.

In some instances, belongings may have been stolen with no indication that a theft has occurred and without signs of forced entry. Some drivers find filing insurance claims difficult, as they may be unable to prove that something has been stolen.

Types of Keyless Vehicle Crimes

The complexity of these crimes lies in the multiple ways criminals might clone or bypass key fobs, depending on whether the theft is opportunistic or planned, with several people working in tandem.

Key cloning is perhaps the most frequent, in which thieves use a transponder device that can be purchased cheaply. These devices pick up the code broadcast by the key fob, which they can copy and use to unlock and start the car, though they typically need to be fairly close to the driver.

Another technique is called relay theft, in which one thief positions themselves close to the bag or property holding the keys and uses a device to broadcast the signal farther. The car receives the signal and believes the keys are present, at which point it unlocks and can be driven away, even from street parking or a driveway outside a home.

Signal jamming is often used by criminals targeting car parking areas. When the driver exits and presses the locking button, the jammer prevents the locks from engaging. After the owner has left, the thief can simply open the doors and remove anything inside.

More advanced criminals use multiple theft techniques simultaneously, such as signal jamming to gain entry, then using a programming device once inside to commit port hacking. This means they access the car's diagnostics and clone a blank fob that then works exactly like the original.

Cloning a key fob with the right equipment can take as little as 20 to 30 seconds, which is why drivers shouldn’t rely on basic security measures and must recognise that their keys and on-board devices might be surprisingly easy to override.

Guidance on Protecting Vehicles Against Keyless Car Theft

Fortunately, there are several things car owners can do to protect themselves from theft, including installing alarms. The caveat is that car thefts often occur very quickly, and an audible alarm relies on the owner being nearby, reacting immediately, and preventing a theft without putting themselves in harm’s way.

Safer, more practical solutions may involve considering how and where keys are stored.

While it may not be possible to keep a set of keys a minimum distance from a vehicle at all times, homeowners who park outside their homes are advised never to store keys close to the front door, where the signal could be amplified or cloned without them realising.

Parking a little farther away or keeping keys in a room at the rear of the property can considerably reduce the risk of theft from driveway or street parking.

Many owners are investing in boxes or pouches designed to block the signal from the keys, so they are not intercepted. Often called Faraday pouches, these products are inexpensive and fairly effective, although lower-end models may not block the signal entirely.

Steering locks and immobilisers add to these security measures, and, depending on the driver’s budget and the desirability of their vehicle, they could opt for a conventional steering lock, a wheel clamp, or a bollard installed outside a driveway to prevent the vehicle from being moved.

There are, however, next-generation immobilisers that outperform all of these solutions. Investing in a Ghost II immobiliser installation carried out by a TASSA-verified installer approved by Autowatch can make it impossible for a criminal to steal your vehicle, even if they have physically stolen your keys.

How Advanced Digital Immobilisers Prevent Keyless Vehicle Thefts

Immobilisers, as the name suggests, prevent the vehicle from moving.

Unlike traditional clamps or steering wheel locks, which can potentially be removed, picked or tampered with, later immobiliser models enable drivers to set a unique code, whether a pin, a series of button presses or a sequence of movements inside the car, using any components or buttons within their dashboard.

Without the sequence being entered, the car will not start, thereby overcoming the risks of key cloning, signal tampering, or jamming without requiring any visible wiring or extra physical keys.

The benefit is that drivers can rest assured that, despite all of the ways criminals target keyless vehicles and wherever they park their cars, there is no way to disarm the sequence or start the engine without having access to this information, as a type of invisible engine block that will withstand even the most determined theft attempts.

About the company: Eydens Locksmiths and Security have over 20 years of experience providing professional, fast and reliable locksmith and security solution services to residential and commercial clients in Coventry, Rugby, Nuneaton, Bedworth, Kenilworth, Leamington, Stratford upon Avon and Warwick, and are members of the MLA.

Contact Info:
Name: Rob Eyden
Email: Send Email
Organization: Eydens Auto Locksmiths and Vehicle Security
Website: https://eydensautolocksmiths.co.uk/

Release ID: 89196358

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