In mid-June, the police went out and warned that 20 cars – of the brands Range Rover and Dodge Ram – had been stolen in the Stockholm council within the space of just a few months.
In all thefts, the cars’ keyless systems have been used. By standing outside homes, digital equipment was used to locate the signal from the vehicle’s keyless keys, which made it possible for a friend to open and start the cars.
– They do this very quickly and then they simply pull, have Roland Komaromipress spokesperson at the police, said DN.
READ MORE: Do you keep the car key here? It can cost you dearly
Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT
DO NOT MISS: Never do this at the checkout counter at a gas station
The police: This is how you make it more difficult for the car thieves
The police have therefore urged car owners to store the keys in a metal can.
– It may sound silly, but it is the most effective way to make it difficult for them. If you place the car key in some form of metal, such as a can, you interfere with the signal, stated Roland Komaromi in the interview with DN.
DO NOT MISS: Do you leave the window slightly open in your parked car? It can be expensive
The insurance expert: Protect the key
But will it work with any metal can? News24 asked Sofia Ulrikssonlawyer and expert in motor matters at Consumers’ Insurance Agency which provides independent guidance in banking and insurance.
– There is information that you can put the key in an ordinary tin can and thus stop hacking attempts. It probably provides some protection, but if you don’t buy an RFID protection, it is probably better to put the car key and the can further into the house to reduce the risk of the car key’s signal being picked up by unauthorized persons. Car keys are also prone to theft when the house is broken into, so overall it is also much better to keep the car key hidden in the home than in the hall, she explains.
Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT
READ MORE: Rent a car on holiday? That’s how insurance works
RFID protective cases can be purchased from several insurance companies, but also in a number of different stores.
– There are also signal protection pods you can put the key under when you store the key in the home to stop signals trying to access the key’s unlocking information from the outside. If you don’t want the keyless function running at all, with some car brands it is possible to program the function away via the car’s app or by contacting the car manufacturer, notes Ulriksson.