Thieves use device to 'jam' keyless entry systems

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police are investigating whether high-tech thieves have hacked vehicle keyless entry systems to break into cars.
In a case over the weekend, a woman reported to police she parked her car in a parking lot near Washington Street and Orange Avenue. The police report said she placed her purse in her trunk and locked the car doors using her key fob. When she returned to her car approximately three hours later, the purse was gone and the car was unlocked. She told police she was certain the trunk was locked because her 2009 Honda Civic will not lock if there is an open door. Police said there were no signs of forced entry.
The police report lists key fob "jammers" as a possible way thieves broke into the car.
Key fob jammers can be purchased online and block the radio frequencies emitted from keyless entry systems from getting to your car.
It's how Amy Slater believes criminals broke into her car two weekends ago while she was at the beach.
"We don't have physical keys to the car. We don't have anything but key fobs," said Slater, who insists she locked her car with her key fob. "We had two iPads and an iPod missing from our car. There were no signs of forced entry."
Ford Motor Company in Europe also warned its drivers of the new way criminals are breaking into cars. In a company video found on YouTube, the Ford official explained newer models of their vehicles have the ability to prevent radio frequency jamming.
Orlando police said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement recently issued a warning about these criminal devices to local law enforcement. An FDLE spokeswoman told Local 6, law enforcement is aware of these devices.
It remains unclear if the case over the weekend was a result of key fob jammers, but police are reviewing surveillance cameras downtown to see if the criminal appears on video.