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Beware of the tech savy car thief....

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Caron's Gateway Real Estate NH #054318

"I locked my car. As I walked away I heard my car door unlock. I went
back and locked my car again, three times. Each time, as soon as I
started to walk away, I would hear it unlock again!! Naturally alarmed,
I looked around and there were two guys sitting in a car in the fire
lane next to the store.  They were obviously watching me intently, and
there was no doubt they were somehow involved in this very weird
situation. I quickly chucked the errand I was on, jumped in my car and
sped away. I went straight to the police station, told them what had
happened, and found out I was part of a new, and very successful, scheme
being used to gain entry into cars.


Two weeks later, my friend's son had a similar happening. While
traveling, my friend's son stopped at a roadside rest to use the
bathroom. When he came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later,
someone had gotten into his car and stolen his cell phone, laptop
computer, GPS navigator, briefcase......you name it. He called the
police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into, the
police told him he had been a victim of the latest robbery tactic --
there is a device that robbers are using now to clone your security code
when you lock your doors by your car using your key-chain locking
device..remotely. They sit a distance away and watch for their next
victim. They know you are going inside the store, restaurant, or
bathroom and they now have a few minutes to steal and run. The police
officer said to manually lock your car door-by hitting the lock button
inside the car -- that way if there is someone sitting in a parking lot
watching for their next victim, it will not be you.

When you hit the lock button on your car upon exiting, it does not send
the security code, but if you walk away and use the door lock on your
key chain, it sends the code through the airwaves where it can be
instantly stolen.

This is very real.

Be wisely aware of what you just read and please pass this note on. Look
how many times we all lock our doors with our remote just to be sure we
remembered to lock them -- and bingo, someone has our code...and 
whatever was in our car"

Veronica Krzinska
Zenith Realty - Rosedale, MD

Diane,

Thank you for this important information.  I will pass it on to others.

Mar 09, 2010 04:49 AM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Very good to know, I hadn't heard this one before.  It's good to be aware of your surroundings at all times these days.  I wonder if that device works on garage door openers as well.

Mar 09, 2010 04:50 AM
Scott Coslett
National Property Inspections - Berwick, PA

Wow, this is really something to make us think.....I wonder how well the 'codes' to all the lock box keys are protected ??  Anyone know?

Mar 09, 2010 04:55 AM
Diane Daley
Caron's Gateway Real Estate - Northumberland, NH

Thanks for reading and sharing this information with those you associate with

Mar 09, 2010 05:22 AM