There are many places where vehicle owners store their car keys: a hook affixed to the wall, a small candy dish, or even on top of a coffee table or dresser.
But thanks to a new trend in carjacking and automobile theft, Canadians may want to consider another place entirely: the freezer.
Last week, a columnist for the New York Times detailed his eyewitness account of two teenagers attempting to rob the Toyota Prius parked outside his home. He watched as they pulled out a “small black device” enabling them immediate access inside his vehicle.
He conducted an exhaustive search to identify this device, and obtained the answer from a surprising place: the Toronto Police Department.
In early April, Toronto police issued a warning regarding “a spike in theft of Toyota and Lexus SUVs from driveways of homes in the Division. In all of the thefts, there have been no signs of damage at any of the scenes.”
While the public safety alert doesn’t pinpoint an exact cause of the break-ins, it did attribute them to technological gadgetry.
“Investigators believe that the suspect(s) may have access to electronic devices which can compromise an SUV's security system,” it reads.
These devices may constitute a “power amplifier,” a tool that allows robbers to strengthen the signal of a wireless key fob. Whereas fobs usually require the driver to be located a few feet from the car before opening it, amplifiers can extend the signal to a much farther distance.
"It's a bit like a loudspeaker, so when you say hello over it, people who are 100 meters away can hear the word, 'hello,'" Boris Danev, a founder of 3db Technologies, told the NYT. "You can buy these devices anywhere for under $100."
When asked how to prevent this from happening, Danev advised: “Put your keys in the freezer, which acts as a Faraday Cage, and won’t allow a signal to get in or out.”
How prominent of a risk is this to Canadian motorists? Right now, that’s unclear, but Pete Karageorgos, director of consumer and industry relations at the Insurance Bureau of Canada, recommends caution, since technology often acts as a double-edged sword.
“I think it’s a wake-up call for consumers,” Karageorgos said. “We often think of technology as wonderful, perhaps even a panacea, but if we see more theft claims or stolen cars because of technology and issues like this, it may have the opposite effect and drive up rates for comprehensive insurance coverage.”
A couple years ago, the IBC did note that a rash of vehicles similar to the models listed in the TPD alert had been stolen, even though “in many cases the owners still had the keys in their possession.”
Karageorgos recommends that Canadians remain vigilant, as it must be a legitimate concern to warrant an alert from Toronto police. In addition to key and vehicle security, however, he hopes Canadians also take proper insurance safety measures.
“Here in Ontario, the comprehensive and all perils coverage that would cover vehicle owners for a stolen car is considered optional coverage, so everyone may not have it. That’s why it’s important to consider all options to fully protect yourself,” he said.
