Alarm code grabbers

[Bluebottle]

Either I forgot to lock two out of three cars on Friday night and so did the chap who lives opposite or there's some toerag around here who's got one!
Nothing stolen, nothing damaged but I wish he'd shut the door- had to jump start the Previa with the Quantum on Saturday morning!!

Anyone else fallen victim to one of these devices? Anyone know a way round the problem?

[Rockmunky]

Never heard of them, what do they do?

[touringlegend]

Obviously some sort of device that can read an immboliser code I guess and unlock the car. Didn't know this was possible either, it's a bit scary!

[Bluebottle]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Obviously some sort of device that can read an immboliser code I guess and unlock the car. Didn't know this was possible either, it's a bit scary!

I'd heard about such things but I thought they were a myth until
Saturday!
The device works by picking up the signal from your remote when you lock your car. Whoever it was wqasn't interested in little things- my phone charger, cd/tape adaptor. lighters socket splitter etc were all out of the glovebox but left on the seat so I guess he was looking for sat nav etc- there's cradles on the dash of both the cars for an Origin B2 but the device isn't kept in the car. Of the three 1/2 cars on the driveway only the two with remote locking were touched.

https://www.abi.org.uk/Newsreleases/...e.asp?nrid=788

[JimW]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Obviously some sort of device that can read an immboliser code I guess and unlock the car. Didn't know this was possible either, it's a bit scary!

But only possible with older types of system. Newer ones use a two-stage process with unique keys every time they are used. Only the registered keys "know" what code to generate.

See here:

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/security/keys.html

and here (bottom of the page):

http://www.caraudioalarms.com/alarmsystems.htm

Regards

Jim

[Bluebottle]

Interesting reading jim, thanks. I assume mine don't have anti-grabber systems. (a 2002 Toyota and a Quantum with an Autowatch system installed two years ago)
No attempt was made to actually start the cars so I guess that's not what he (or she ) was after.

[Armco Bender]

Lucky they didn't use a low tech device like a brick through the window.

[Bluebottle]

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

Lucky they didn't use a low tech device like a brick through the window.

I have to say I was quite relieved when I couldn't find any evidence of forced entry!

[JimW]

For many years when I had a convertible car, I always left the doors unlocked. Evidence once or twice that the doors had been opened but never got the hood slashed.

Regards

Jim