Deputy Chief Harry Cork of the Wisaka
Police Department (and protagonist of the novel EASY EVIL) has graciously
agreed to stop by the blog occasionally to discuss personal safety and crime
prevention. Our topic for this session is vehicle security.
DOUG: Given all the electronic
countermeasures car manufacturers have devised, do we even have to worry about
keeping our vehicles secure anymore? Once we lock the doors, that is…
HARRY: “Actually Doug, thieves have come up
with counter-countermeasures to what car manufacturers have invented. For
example, how do you lock your car when you’re going into a store?”
I generally just hit the “lock” button
on my key.
“Exactly. That sends a radio signal
over the air to the car’s electronic locking system. Very convenient, right?
Problem is, those radio signals aren’t secure. Anyone who’s nearby with a
device capable of capturing that code can then retransmit it to your car once
you’ve walked away. The bad guys know you’ll be gone for at least a few
minutes, and that gives them time to open the doors and steal your stuff.”
So what should I do instead?
“Use the lock button that’s inside your
car instead of the one on your key. That doesn’t require a radio signal so it
can’t be read remotely.”
Then I’m safe, right?
“In most cases, yes. If you have a
luxury car, you could face a different problem. Some police departments in our
area have reported luxury cars stolen by thieves using cloned keys.”
They copy them the same way?
“No, actually cloning the key to be
able to start the car requires higher-end software usually only available to
car dealers. What we’ve discovered is that thieves are either obtaining the
software illegally or by working with colleagues at car dealerships outside the
area where the cars have been stolen. It’s a significant problem and, as of
yet, I’m not aware of any solution by the manufacturers.”
So if I own a luxury car, I’m screwed?
“Talk to your dealership. But, remember
The Club? It’s a solid steel bar that can be locked in place across your
steering wheel. It won’t stop thieves with the capability to tow your car but
it may slow down the others, even those with cloned keys. One more thing. Park
your car inside a secure garage at night. That’s always a good idea, no matter
what make or model of vehicle you own.”
You can find more safety tips on my
website, www.dougmcummingsauthor.com or in my new book, Escaping
the Ozone: Intuition, Situational Awareness and Staying Safe available from
Amazon or any eBook retailer.
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