How likely is it to hack open newer cars remotely?

This is the 3rd time on my Sister's st. that someone has gone down the road late at night and got into quite a few cars. Everyone on the st. knows to lock up and seems to be pretty careful about making sure. These are almost all retirees and you know how obsessive they can be about keeping safe so it's rattling them. I don't know whether to get on her about being forgetful or whether to mount cameras. She has a hyper German Shepherd that can hear the mailman or UPS from down the St. so these guys are really quiet.

Sure enough though every 6 mths or so they wake up and there will be several new cars sitting with doors open up and down street. (they don't make the noise to close them) Glovebox's open and anything of value gone. No radios out or anything, just a quick going through for money

Why I wonder is......no older cars seem to ever get hit. Just ones with remote openers. Sister's is a '17 Accord, neighbor has a '12 Ranger.

 

There are a stupid number of people that leave their cars unlocked. Are you sure they are getting into locked cars?

 

No, not sure. These folks are pretty obsessed with locking them though. Sister has always been OCD about locks period.

And this is a pretty good neighborhood, nothing else really happens but this is semi-regular.

A quick Google search shows there to be unexplained similar happenings elsewhere so I gather that thieves do at least use the practice of 'capturing' codes but this seems extreme for a handful of change every few cars.

The most likely scenario I can come up with (whether the cars are locked or unlocked) is that it's one of the neighbors on the street who's disgruntled. And yes there is an obvious suspect in that regard.

He drives a Jeep. Ha, I've just convicted him. He's jealous of people with reliable vehicles.

Actually, he would have access to evidence from arrested car thieves.

Have to admit I'm the opposite, I keep nothing of value in a vehicle and leave it open. Is it possible for someone to get a handful of change from me sometime, yea. I've just cleaned up busted glass 1 too many times in my life.

 

After some reading up on this sort of 'gadget', I don't think it's made or at least known of at this point. Something that just scans as you drive around unlocking doors so this thread can go off the rails now if ya'll want. Wish I knew how to manuever better on the dark web to see what's for offer to criminals.




It is kind of strange about break ins over my life though. When thieves were my own age (and almost EVERYONE listened to rock) your music collection was the first to go. Briefcase of cassettes, boxes of 8-tracs, CD's were kind of the turning point, early on yes, after people started burning their own, no.
No one wants your music now, it's always left behind. Just the devices.
Hell, even HU's aren't even a target anymore, used to be your system was worth locking up. Not even worth the time now.

 

They could also be capturing vin's then having buddy's that work at dealerships make new keys.

I thought they use something similar to the 2-factor codes that are generated every 10-seconds. It would be impossible to m-i-t-m that. You'd have to have the encryption key.

 

I'm not hip to all that. S'why i had to ask. Another one noticed today when she noticed her door ajar and battery run down. Said she hasn't used car since last week. Makes 6 from last hit.

Another reason to keep my old Taco, pwr locks but no remote.

 

Cameras in the neighborhood is your only defense. And yes they do make or some one can make one of those transponders. We had 7 Audi sedans/SUV hit on one street. Car manufactures don't go to great lengths to keep cars secure.

 

https://www.wired.com/2016/03/study-finds-24-car-models-open-unlocking-ignition-hack/

I have seen the same thing as far as a whole street being hit, security cams showing them using some device to unlock the cars.

I ended up installing a car alarm that was isolated from the toyota keyless, so that it would stay armed even if my doors were unlocked.

Depending on her model, she can pull the keyless fuse when she is parking it for a while. She obviuosly needs to confirm that she can manually unlock driver's door first.