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SALT LAKE CITY -- The convenience of your car's keyless entry may come at a price. Swiss researchers recently revealed the fobs can be hacked. All crooks need is a specialized antenna and some other equipment. Local police agencies say they haven't seen it happen here, but it could eventually be difficult to detect.
Unified Police Detective Levi Hughes said, "We would need to check out the car's computer and see when it last received a transmission to unlock its doors." Then they would need to talk to the car's owner to see if it matched up with the last time they used it.
"Just because a car is stolen wouldn't necessarily tell me how it was done, even if we found it and there was no sign of forced entry or scratches on the paint," said Hughes. He said he could use a "Slim Jim" tool to break into a car and not leave a trace.
Hughes said the first time they make in arrest for using this equipment will be if they catch someone in the act. But Hughes said they need help from the public. "It's going to be that situation where someone calls that into us, we show up in that area, find that person and then find them in possession some electronic devices they cannot explain."
He said the crooks would have to be within 35 to 40 feet of the person using the key fob since that's about the range of a keyless entry device.
E-mail: cwall@ksl.com
