Theft risk "Keyless

"Keyless" locking systems are now widespread - even in small cars, the systems are available for a few hundred francs extra. The car owner carries the key on his person. As soon as he approaches his car, it recognizes the key by radio. No keystroke is required to open the door. Touching the door handle opens the central locking system. In most cases, the engine can also be started without an ignition key by pressing a start button. A nice gimmick and very convenient to boot. But these systems are not only very convenient, they are also very easy to break into.

The joint project of TCS and ADAC conducted "keyless" test in 2016, 24 vehicles were subjected. Recently, the organization tested another 76 models. The result: once again, all vehicles could be opened and driven away with ease, as the organization writes. There is market-ready technology that could prevent this.

Car manufacturers are challenged

The TCS demands that car manufacturers improve anti-theft protection, for example by installing a chip with timing ex works. ETH Zurich has developed such a chip, it says. With this and intelligent programming, the car could recognize when the signal from the key had been diverted. Since the key cannot possibly be near the door in this way, the car remains locked, as the TCS points out.

The remedial recommendations currently being bandied about, such as shielding key cases or wrapping the key in aluminum foil, are either not reliable or not practical in the view of TCS.

As long as cars are exposed to a higher risk of theft, the TCS recommends "Keyless"-systems not to buy. Those who have never had the technical gadget and are used to pressing the remote control on the key do not need it. And the organization points out that with some models "Keyless" (see operating instructions for the vehicle).

And this is how the theft works

Necessary for the theft are two people: One person goes near the car key with a small receiver - the other person must stand near the car door with a small transmitter. In this way, the signals are "extended" more than a hundred meters and the car can be opened and started.
The TCS test showed that the bridging of the signals still works even if the person with the receiver was more than 100 meters away from the key. In an emergency, this means that even if the key is in the house or the owner is standing at the checkout with the key in his pocket while shopping, the vehicle can be opened and started. Once the engine is started, the stolen car can often be driven until the tank is empty or until the next time the engine is turned off. Depending on the vehicle, this can be several hundred to a thousand kilometers.

Bad surprise

And finally, once the shock of the stolen vehicle has subsided, the next unpleasant surprise often awaits. If the police find the stolen car and examine it, there are neither signs of burglary nor signs of theft. An unclear situation that can also lead to the suspicion that the theft was only faked, as the TCS writes. A tricky situation for the owner and the insurance company.