# Auto burglaries without broken windows **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 5, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892 "2024-04-05T17:20:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/1 "2024-04-05T17:20:55Z")
My wife told me some neighbors had their cars broken into and that the alarms were set and no windows were broken. She claimed the thieves had key fobs they used to gain access and rummage through the cars. This sounds fishy to me. While it might be possible to have a “skeleton” fob, it seems like a pretty sophisticated attack to pilfer loose change from inside a vehicle. Does such a fob exist that is easily accessible to the kind of person who would commit such a penny ante crime? We live in a fairly affluent suburb of Austin and most of the crime around here seems to be committed little punks in the neighborhood, so I am skeptical. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/2 "2024-04-05T18:05:12Z")
Could be an inside job from someone who works at a car dealership or a tech at one of the tech centers. ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/3 "2024-04-05T18:28:02Z")
A couple of ways: [Fob Signal Interception](https://theautowire.com/2024/04/04/thieves-steal-luxury-cars-by-intercepting-fob-signals/) [CAN Injection Attack](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/04/crooks-are-stealing-cars-using-previously-unknown-keyless-can-injection-attacks/) ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/4 "2024-04-05T18:37:40Z")
Or, the neighbors claimed that the alarms were set, but really they left the car doors unlocked. People spoofing key fobs are going to steal the car. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/5 "2024-04-05T19:00:12Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Or, the neighbors claimed that the alarms were set, but really they left the car doors unlocked. Or the old metal jimmy thing down the window to unlock it. Or the window was open a little due to the heat and they unlocked it that way. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/6 "2024-04-05T19:01:03Z")
If the alarms were actually set, these methods should set them off. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/7 "2024-04-05T19:03:27Z")
Yes- “IF”. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/8 "2024-04-05T19:09:41Z")
People are far more convinced of the infallibilty of their habits than is realistic. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/9 "2024-04-05T19:45:20Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Or the old metal jimmy thing down the window to unlock it. I saw a vehicle opening kit at Ross or Burlington Coat or similar discount place for $12. Some slimjims, rods, wedges, I think an inflatable bag. If these were once tools restricted to specialist professionals, they’re not anymore. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/10 "2024-04-05T22:05:05Z")
> [@Dogginit](#): > > A couple of ways: > > [Fob Signal Interception](https://theautowire.com/2024/04/04/thieves-steal-luxury-cars-by-intercepting-fob-signals/) I thought that this was common enough and well known enough that many people keep their fobs in Faraday boxes at home. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/11 "2024-04-06T12:49:26Z")
If you thought you set your alarm and didn’t, you may not notice when you push the unlock button and get back in the car - which you’d have to do to notice the pilfering. Less-than-high-end younger types wandering the streets in the dead of night, randomly trying car doors is a pretty common thing. Happened to us several years ago, a couple of CD’s stolen out of the car (yes, _that_ long ago). Annoying thing was they took the one CD case but left the CD still in the player. It’s been a long time since I left change in the center console, but that seems to be to usual target. If someone had a magic fob, the car would be gone. Even for Toronto, car theft capital of the world, this does not seem to be a known means of theft. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/12 "2024-04-06T13:21:52Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > People spoofing key fobs are going to steal the car. Not if the key fob unlocks the doors but doesn’t start the car. (I don’t know how common that is nowadays, but it used to be typical, and it’s the way it is with my older-ish car.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/13 "2024-04-06T20:28:36Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Not if the key fob unlocks the doors but doesn’t start the car. I have never had a car that does that. Mind you, my newest car is 7 years old, so… ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/14 "2024-04-06T20:32:30Z")
My 2006 Silverado 3500 and my 1997 Chevy Tahoe both have keyless entry, but not keyless ignition. Mrs. D’s 2019 Mustang has keyless entry/ignition. ETA: So best you could do on my personal rigs is unlock them and riffle through them. The Tahoe you could probably hotwire and drive away, don’t think that’s quite as easy on the 2006 truck, but I could be mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/15 "2024-04-07T07:29:54Z")
Car alarms were outlawed here over a decade ago, so while most vehicles have immobilizers, people have just learned not to leave anything valuable in their cars. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/16 "2024-04-07T12:57:14Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I thought that this was common enough and well known enough that many people keep their fobs in Faraday boxes at home. Some of us do that, along with a decoy fob that’s merrily broadcasting to a non-existent car. Most security is just delaying the thief, so every additional layer lowers the chances of losing your stuff. The longer it takes, the more confusion you can spread, the more likely they’ll move on. I wonder if anyone’s done a study on the probabilities .vs. time. Like X minutes of delay result in Y% reduction in theft, or something? I guess there are too many variables to have reliable numbers, especially since it’s become a security arms race between the law-abiding (Are you willing to invest more than your neighbors to ensure they suffer losses instead?). > [@Dogginit](#): > > My 2006 Silverado 3500 and my 1997 Chevy Tahoe both have keyless entry, but not keyless ignition. Mrs. D’s 2019 Mustang has keyless entry/ignition. I didn’t know this existed. Mine’s the other way 'round (have to push a button to unlock, but has keyless start). > [@Alessan](#): > > Car alarms were outlawed here over a decade ago I’m curious where you live. I’ve never heard of alarms being outlawed. Is it true for houses, or just cars? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/17 "2024-04-07T13:02:28Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > I’m curious where you live. I’ve never heard of alarms being outlawed. Is it true for houses, or just cars? Israel. They’re considered noise nuisances. House alarms are still legal, but with restrictions - no louder than 87 dB, no longer than 6 minutes, and if they go on for longer than 30 minutes the police will break into your house, shut it down, and bill you for their services. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/18 "2024-04-09T18:00:25Z")
that happened in Cleveland ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/19 "2024-04-10T06:22:40Z")
There’s always the old tennis ball trick. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892/20 "2024-04-10T13:13:19Z")
Does this actually work? Snopes says [False](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/can-unlock-car-door-tennis-ball/). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-burglaries-without-broken-windows/999892.md?page=2)