Sensual_Sushi

Hi all,

I tried searching for a similar thread but couldn't find anything useful from the search function.

So I had my car parked in a friend's condo visitor spot, came out and noticed all my windows were an inch down (like what happens when you hold the unlock button). I went to it and lo and behold, doors are unlocked with alarm disabled. They took my Acura book from my glove box as well as a gps and sunglasses.
At least they didn't break the glass.

Question is:
How did they do this? I distinctly remember arming my car as I always double tap it for the beep. It's as if they had a spare FOB for my car? Just wondering if anyone else has had this experience.

Thanks

Tehvine

Take a look at your door key cylinder. My guess is that they either jammed something into there to turn it or had a key that they took to a grinder to make it fit in most locks and forcibly turned yours. It would make sense why your windows were cracked, they probably had to put a lot of pressure on the cylinder to turn it to unlock and they let go once the windows cracked.

pokin

This would crack open all windows and disable alarm?

vuuha05

iTrader: (5)

wow man that sucks. did you get a chance to put in a police report? You might have lost a couple hundreds dollars worth of merchandise, but at least they did not smash your windows which would have been a lot worst. good luck in finding your answer as it would help us all out.

Souljah

Never heard of this...
Sounds clean and like someone scooped you out.

Don't accuse them... but.
How well do you trust your friends? Did you drink/passout?

HondaOnWORKS

Hey,

I feel you. I had a similar situation, but my windows weren't rolled down.

I came back to the Bay Area to visit some friends at their school, but when I returned to my car it was unlocked and my iPod was missing.

I started having doubts that I didn't lock my car, but my friend that parked next to me saw me lock my car and heard the beep, and so did I.

Nothing was broken or damaged. It was just that they got into my car w/o force.

I did some research on this topic, and I found out that some people use devices to copy your remote signal. They replay this signal and your car will unlock.

They might have done this to your car also, but also rolled down your windows for some reason? That's the only reason I know, because I looked it up on Google.

huystAr

iTrader: (3)

crazy....and also scary. can aftermarket remote signals be copied as well? (viper alarm fob for example)

legendbliss

vipers have rolling codes. so it'll be a new code everytime you lock/unlock the car. thus not being able to be copied.

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

You need a Trunk Monkey

jimmyl

I haven't been around here long, but seems like there is a thread about the windows rolling down a bit and maybe car unlocked also?? Might even have been an '04 thing too. Something about remote?
Memory isn't my strong suit though.....

218TL

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/27037/page1/

Souljah

Trunk Monkey FTW

frugalguy

http://www.ktvu.com/news/26384442/detail.html

mani

Time to invest in a CLUB-LOCK i guess !

Majofo

+1 on trunk monkey.

Any chance you might have inadvertantly pressed the unlock button and lowered your windows?

MofroS

^^^^^this

anx1300c

iTrader: (2)

lol

SmileyOr

My car is set to lock the doors automatically within 30 or so seconds of closing the door. It's really frustrating when I go out to wash it and throw the clean microfiber rags into the front seat and close the door. I get part way around and go back to open the door and I have to reach back into my pocket to get the key to open the door.

Mine has always locked without me needing to hit the lock button on my fob. And the alarm always sets automatically. the only problem I would have is if I left the windows down.

I have not tried to reset the timing on the locking function since buying my car last year.

Sensual_Sushi

LOL @ trunk monkey

I was at my gf's place so unless she jacked me I wasn't passed out anywhere.
I locked the door and on top of that there was no way I could have pressed and held the open button the second time to open the windows.
(I've since found out they stole my pack of gum)

It's weird, I don't know what I can do to fix it besides not park there anymore.
My car does open with my key only (without fob) and it disarms when I unlock it. Perhaps they have a Acura master key or something.

Anyways, thanks for the feedback guys!

SSM4DR

iTrader: (1)

It's always a good idea to invest in a 2-way pager alarm so you know when someone is messing around trying to break into you car & such. I had the Viper 5901 on my old car & loved it, I will be getting the same one for my TL as well.

Babnik

This is how I heard it works:

The thief sits in his car with a device that can intercept your key fob's code, waiting for someone to park. When he sees you arrive he turns on his device, you get out of your car and press the lock button on your key fob to lock your doors, at this time the thief intercepts that code and now he can use that code to unlock your car.

Solution: Always lock your car by pressing the lock button on the door instead of on your key fob.

huystAr

iTrader: (3)

will do, thanks for the tip

backthatACup

yea but when i thief steals the code with their device aren't they mimicing the locking sequence only?that would be of no use to them unless that same code can also apply to unlocking....

Babnik

Apparently not, when the thief steals the code he can use it to send any instruction your key fob can, lock, unlock, open trunk, etc.

I would have thought a supposed luxury car like the TL would have a key fob that changes its code every time but I guess not. On my last car I got an alarm for $200 at Best Buy including installation and it would change its code every time but Acura can't do it on a 40k car.

lights

iTrader: (1)

i'm sorry to bring this back up, any update OP??
same situation just happened to me.

NAMco

iTrader: (3)

Yep, I just posted in lights' thread stating the same thing. Thieves use the code interceptor. Quite clever actually, but karma's a bitch. Anyways, sorry to hear that. My father sent me that email a while back, but I never applied the tips for it. Which is probably how I got jacked at the club one night in my rsx. I was almost positive I locked my car and they still stole my wifes purse...

I hate cars

So it sounds like manually locking the door might be a good option in sketchy places. I know I'm going to be paranoid for now on, eyeballing everyone within alarm distance.

kthai417

yeah, i've experienced the same problem a few months ago. they scramble through my glove compartment and left a paper mess on the seat. took my cologne and my acura manual (which was returned a week later at my door--surprisingly!haha)

my brother and sister car was also broken into as well. they drive an accord and suburu. no physical damage or sign of break-in, just missing stuff.

from the response in the thread, i would guess some sort of device was used to capture the remote signal and then used to unlock.