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AIBU?

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Original poster

To buy a faraday box?

136 replies

stopmefeelingsick · 29/12/2023 06:44

For my car keys to protect them from thieves intercepting the signal and stealing my new car?

I don't really want one (would look a little out of place by the door and we're on a frugal living push so avoiding unnecessary expense) but it would be interesting to know if other people use them and just how widespread this type of car theft is?

OP posts:
McOrange · 29/12/2023 07:22

PLEASE please check your faraday pouches still work if you have them. They actually only last about 6 months or so and need to be replaced frequently.

We had our car stolen via keyless entry signal relay despite having our keys in faraday pouches - we didn’t realise they’d stopped working

I tried my “new” ones again (about 5 months old) the other day and could unlock my car even with the key in the faraday pouch. Time for a new one.

we keep our keys in the fridge at night

Original poster
stopmefeelingsick · 29/12/2023 07:30

After reading all this I'm going to buy a box on Amazon that comes with two pouches. I'll keep the keys in ouches and store them in the box when we're at home for double protection. Thanks also for the tip about checking and replacing regularly - it wouldn't have occurred to me that they don't last forever!

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 29/12/2023 07:31

Thanks for this thread. I think we should get a faraday box too.

Growlybear83 · 29/12/2023 07:33

My car was repeatedly broken into a couple of years ago on my drive, together with several other cars in my road. I've only got a little hatchback but thieves will take anything that you leave in a car round here. With one exception when they broke a window, there was never any damage to my car so the thief must have accessed the signal from the key. We bought a faraday box for about a tenner from Amazon and have not had a problem since. As others have said, you can get pouches from about £4 but we wanted something large enough to fit my husband's car keys and our alarm keys. My husband also fitted a cctv system to give us greater peace of mind.

Lifestooshort71 · 29/12/2023 07:49

Brain fog here, how do I test my Faraday pouch still works? (Be gentle, feeling rough 😕)

QuestionableMouse · 29/12/2023 07:52

Ilovemyshed · 29/12/2023 06:56

Yes to a pouch. If you are really concerned, you can usually turn the keyless function off in the car menu.

Don't leave any keys for anything near the front door.

Bugger that! If someone breaks in I'd rather they took my car keys and left rather than ransacking the entire house!

Yogibearspicnic · 29/12/2023 08:07

@Lifestooshort71 This type of theft is for keyless entry where you just need to be in the proximity of the car for it to open and start, not actually press a button. If have this then just put key in pouch and walk to car and see if it opens or not!

If have a button-press key they don't need a pouch

SandyWaves · 29/12/2023 08:07

Sally20099 · 29/12/2023 07:19

we’ve got two expensive SUVs and use one but also leave it very easy to find on the advice of the police. A policeman was going door to door following an attempted break in further down the street and his view was that some thieves would just leave after no success but others, if they want your car enough, will break in and at that point you probably just want them to be able to grab the keys and go, rather than the gang coming into your bedroom and forcing you to get them. He said they hardly ever work alone. Scary stuff.

This is sadly accurate.

Some thieves won't be put off by a steering lock or faraday box. If they really want your vehicle, they'll do anything to take it. I know of one person who had guys break into his home and force him to remove the steering lock. I'd prefer they just took my car and not enter my home.

Aparecium · 29/12/2023 08:12

Surely a £50K car has a key that can be switched off? Look at your car manual.

If not, then it's absolutely a no-brainer to prioritise preventing car theft over the look of your entrance.

CoatOfArms · 29/12/2023 08:17

At the moment the key is in a bowl by the front door

That's your mistake. People wanting to nick cars are not daft and know that's where many people leave their keys. Ours are on a hook inside a kitchen cupboard, well away from the door. Much safer, not just for the risk of electronic intercept and so on, but also the risk of burglary which is more common. All sorts of warnings about people putting hooks through the letterbox and so on.

PegasusReturns · 29/12/2023 08:18

We have two high end cars

As per pp police advised us to leave keys immediately inside door to minimise chances of waking up with a knife to your throat.

we have good perimeter security but in event someone can get on drive I absolutely want them to grab the car and go rather than getting into house

BusyMummyWrites01 · 29/12/2023 08:20

Just use any tin and store in a part of the house that is furthest from your car - we use a sweet tin and pop it in a drawer in the kitchen at the rear of our house. No need for any special purchases. The metal case is all that is needed (kitchen foil around a tupperware container is another cheap alternative).

anothernamechangeagainsndagain · 29/12/2023 08:21

My key lives in my handbag but my car is 150m ish from my house, I'm guessing that's not a risk (residential car park no drives)

Benibidibici · 29/12/2023 08:22

A lot of thieves hide near your house/car and use devices to detect the signal used when you lock the car as you leave/arrive each day.

miserablecat · 29/12/2023 08:23

There have been a lot of vehicle thefts in my area recently, including our road. Mostly range rovers but also fiestas. The advice used to be to use a Faraday pouch/box but recently I heard there was some new method of stealing (keyless entry) cars where a Faraday box didn't work.....

scalt · 29/12/2023 08:24

There is a massive irony to all this: "keyless entry" is sold as technology to make your life easier, but it's actually made cars more vulnerable to theft, and you have to do more than you did before, i.e. use a Faraday pouch. And if you fail to use the pouch, the theft is your fault. Flawed technology at its finest. And now I read on here that Faraday pouches have to be renewed - built-in obsolescence, more pointless expense. I'll hang on to keys that have to be put in a keyhole for as long as I possibly can, for this very reason.

Remember also the car stereos that could easily be removed, so that "they wouldn't be stolen"? Not a word in the sales patter about the inconvenience of having to do this, and that if you did leave it in, it was then your fault if it was stolen.

miserablecat · 29/12/2023 08:27

scalt · 29/12/2023 08:24

There is a massive irony to all this: "keyless entry" is sold as technology to make your life easier, but it's actually made cars more vulnerable to theft, and you have to do more than you did before, i.e. use a Faraday pouch. And if you fail to use the pouch, the theft is your fault. Flawed technology at its finest. And now I read on here that Faraday pouches have to be renewed - built-in obsolescence, more pointless expense. I'll hang on to keys that have to be put in a keyhole for as long as I possibly can, for this very reason.

Remember also the car stereos that could easily be removed, so that "they wouldn't be stolen"? Not a word in the sales patter about the inconvenience of having to do this, and that if you did leave it in, it was then your fault if it was stolen.

Yes. See also insurance premiums sky-rocketing because the cars are at greater risk of being stolen

Benibidibici · 29/12/2023 08:27

Range rovers always get nicked.

You can avoid car crime by not driving one.

Ive had a mid range, reliable Japanese brand for years. Never nicked or broken into.

geoger · 29/12/2023 08:27

Def buy a pouch instead of the box. I keep my key in the pouch even when I’ve parked up and I’m out and about. Thieves can intercept the signal even if you’re sitting in a cafe a few feet away from your car. Couple of weeks ago a person parked near me had their car stolen from Asda car park - she didn’t have a pouch and only used a box when at home. I also use a steering lock at all times even if im just popping in somewhere (we live in London so car theft is a daily occurrence)

SutWytTi · 29/12/2023 08:35

SandyWaves · 29/12/2023 08:07

This is sadly accurate.

Some thieves won't be put off by a steering lock or faraday box. If they really want your vehicle, they'll do anything to take it. I know of one person who had guys break into his home and force him to remove the steering lock. I'd prefer they just took my car and not enter my home.

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I agree. I wouldn't want to make it so they had to come indoors - make sure there is nothing irreplaceable left in the car and accept it might get nicked.

I don't have a car at all though.

Humbugg · 29/12/2023 08:36

We have a car that’s easy to steal via the key fob. We keep the keys in a tin (old tea tin) in the kitchen away from the front door.
we also have a faraday pouche attached to the car key ring.
my mum lives in a small village (fairly wealthy village) and 2 neighbours have had cars stolen in the last year via keyless keys. Think it was a Range Rover and a bmw. It’s a very quiet pretty village you wouldn’t really expect it

changefromhr · 29/12/2023 08:40

Expensive car but on a frugal living push?

Just buy the thing.

DopeyS · 29/12/2023 08:40

I had a ford fiesta ST and it was stolen from outside my husband's apartment in November. He came out to go to work and it was gone. It took them minutes but we didn't realise how poor the ford system is.
Definitely get a Faraday pouch. Where his apartment is there were 7 fords stolen in 3 weeks. Majority gone without keys but then some Audi's and BMWs but they were all home invasion for keys.
Our car was recovered and was being used as getaway car to take others.

Redglitter · 29/12/2023 08:42

VisionsOfSplendour · 29/12/2023 07:15

Thosr can't be keyless cars being stolen by intercepting signals, surely thats ordinary physical means

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They can. My car is 10 years old & is keyless