Newer model vehicles with push button ignition most vulnerable to relay attack
By Tim Gerber
SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio police officers are warning citizens of a recent increase in vehicle thefts and burglaries on the Northwest Side, and in some cases, they think the thieves are using technology to hack their way in.
It's called a relay attack, and it uses a vehicle's wireless key fob to gain access by stealing the low-frequency radio signal the fob transmits.
It's not a new crime. Crooks in Europe have been doing it for several years. American law enforcement agencies began seeing similar thefts occur as far back as 2013.
It's called a relay attack, and it uses a vehicle's wireless key fob to gain access by stealing the low-frequency radio signal the fob transmits.
It's not a new crime. Crooks in Europe have been doing it for several years. American law enforcement agencies began seeing similar thefts occur as far back as 2013.
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| image from: ksat.com |
Now, the San Antonio Police Department says it's happening here.
Officers with SAPD’s SAFFE unit have been using social media to warn residents in the Prue service area about thieves using a vehicle's key fob to break into and in some cases even steal the vehicle.
"We've just seen criminals using a device to walk up to the car and somehow through the low radio frequency, checking to see if the fob is accessible," said Officer Alisia Pruneda. "If it is, then they're making entry into the vehicle through this device and taking the car that way."
There's no broken glass left behind, often leaving the owner confused unless they have a surveillance camera that catches the thieves in action. Pruneda said they have at least one crime caught on camera but they are aware of other similar thefts in recent months.
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