High-tech SC thieves are stealing cars without needing the keys. Here’s how to protect yourself

Thieves are able to walk around outside your house, search for the signal of your key fob and then hop in and steal the car.

It’s something that is happening more and more often, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said in a recent Roll Call podcast.

And they have a video showing it happening.

Lt. Mike Kastner, who is in charge of investigating property crimes with the Sheriff’s Office, said in the past six months eight or nine Dodge Charger Hellcats have been stolen.

And that’s just one type of vehicle, although one that is 60 times more likely to be stolen than any other car built between 2020 and 2022, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute.

“If you own a Hellcat, you better check your driveway,” Matt Moore, a senior vice president for the institute, said. “These numbers are unbelievable.”

Kastner said key fobs are always searching for a signal to your car and so someone with a signal booster can get your signal and trick the car into thinking your own key fob is nearby.

Universal key fobs such as those used by mechanics are also sometimes used.

Then thieves can steal whatever you have inside as well as start the car and take off.

They can also reprogram the vehicle’s electronics and create a working key.

By the time you are aware, that car can be in a chop shop, on its way to Atlanta or in a truck bound for Mexico, Sheriff Hobart Lewis said.

Lewis said it is a whole new day, compared to when he was young and owned a 1976 orange Toyota Corolla wagon with wood side panels, and he worried about someone stealing his tape deck. Faceplate removed, no problem.

How to protect yourself

• Key fobs should be stored inside your home, away from front doors, walls and garages.
• Get a Faraday bag, which blocks the signal. They can also be used for cell phones, wifi, GPS and even credit cards.
• Lock your doors.
• Remove valuables. Lewis said a neighbor’s visiting son recently was the victim of gun theft from his driveway.
• Use tracking systems. Some vehicles have built-in systems. Lewis said he knows of other devices that do not require a subscription.
• Surveillance cameras are your friend. And law enforcement’s. Kastner encouraged people to offer their videos if they see law enforcement investigating something near their homes.
• Write down serial numbers. If you can provide them it’s quicker than law enforcement having to look up the information. Also, helpful in recovering other property stolen like chain saws and laptops.
• Don’t keep documents like registration and insurance cards in your car. Lewis said he is surprised at the number of people who don’t know their license plate number.