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The good news is that most crime rates are down, all across the U.S. The bad news is that car theft is the highest it’s been since 2008. In Illinois alone, grand theft auto shot up 35% in one year. But owners have found ways to fight back–including by storing their key fobs in an empty tin.

Car thieves are constantly searching for new ways to steal vehicles. Meanwhile, automakers are always countering with new ways to secure their cars and trucks. But I’d argue that automakers’ cybersecurity strategy has been outdated for years, and as a result even some recent model years are vulnerable to theft.

One common car theft strategy is called a “relay attack” and targets vehicles equipped with keyless entry and engine start/stop buttons. The first thief runs up to your front door and uses an electronic device to extend or “relay” your key fob’s signal. The second thief holds another device near your car. Then they simply open your car’s door, start its engine, and drive away.

A masked and gloved man wearing all black looks into a car window ready to break in
Car thief | djedzura via iStock

Many car owners are getting creative to protect their vehicles. One way to prevent a relay attack is to block your key fob’s RFID signal. To accomplish this, owners have been wrapping their key fobs in aluminum foil, or even storing them in empty metal tins. The metal contains the signal so the thieves have nothing to relay.

You can also invest in RFID-blocking pouches designed for a key fob, or an RFID-blocking box. Another common tactic is to store your key fobs (both primary and spares) as far from the front door as possible. Placing them by your bed has an added benefit: you may be able to trigger your car alarm if you hear thieves in the night.

Bright red Dodge SRT Hellcat key fob on a leather seat.
Dodge Hellcat key fob | Dylan McLeod via Unsplash

The most surefire way to protect your car from a relay attack is to disable keyless entry. If you must click a button to unlock your car, a regular relay attack won’t work. But not every make and model offers you this option.

Of course, thieves have other tricks for unlocking cars. So make sure to read why some owners are chopping the wires to their OBD ports to keep thieves from driving their cars away. You can also see more strategies to foil a relay attack in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.