My car (with keyless entry system) was broken into last night

[screenman]

The bending the window frame was and still is a way in, very rare the glass breaks.
Tho it was more for popping the button.
Cars dont have the button now, so not really any point.

I used to be able to get a door open in seconds with a bent welding rod, coat hanger etc.
Bend into a hook shape and slide it down the glass and twist and lift the door lock button.
Ridiculously easy back then

I have two of the pump up wedges you would use for jacking out the door top a tad, I was doubting the sticking your arm in the get the keys out of the ignition.

 

[Illaveago]

My first car was an 850 cc mini Van, Reg MBT 135F whatever year that was. Handpainted brown by me and my dad

1967/68
If you still had any of the windows you could find the year of manufacture from the etched Toughened sign. A small dot was placed underneath one of the letters. T being 1 o being 2 and so on.

 

[Illaveago]

Wonder how he did that as the door glass would have to bend, as even when fully up it goes down into the door quite a bit.

That is the way some thieves broke into my son's car. The police could tell which group were responsible due to the way they broke into the car. Another group used to rip the door lock barrel out.

 

[simon.r]

Hey Simon, did you say your car actually unlocks as you APPROACH it? So in other words, you don't actually touch the door handle before it opens? And when leaving the car, does it lock as you walk away or do you have to touch the door handle to lock it? Tia.

Yes, assuming you have the key fob in your pocket or bag it unlocks when you're close to it and locks as you walk away, without actually touching the car. You can also lock it by tapping a button on the handle twice (the indicators flash and the car beeps to confirm it's locked). I always do this just to be safe

I'm old enough to remember levering doors open and using coat hangers to pull up buttons but I really like the keyless system - apart from the security issues! I could live without it, but it is useful.

 

[byegad]

My dad bought a brand new Cortina Mk1 not long after they came out. IIRC 1966ish.

One day while shopping with my mother he went back to the car early, got in and realised that the glove compartment didn't have his driving glasses case in it. At that point an angry man opened the door and asked him WTF he was doing sitting in his car? Dad's Cortina was two rows over, same colour, same model and both sets of car keys turned out to be able to open both doors.

Further enquiries at the Ford garage came up with the fact that only 5 different keys opened all of the Cortina Mk1s made to that date.

 

[mustang1]

Yes, assuming you have the key fob in your pocket or bag it unlocks when you're close to it and locks as you walk away, without actually touching the car. You can also lock it by tapping a button on the handle twice (the indicators flash and the car beeps to confirm it's locked). I always do this just to be safe

I'm old enough to remember levering doors open and using coat hangers to pull up buttons but I really like the keyless system - apart from the security issues! I could live without it, but it is useful.

I wonder if the problem your car has only affects cars where the drivers approaches or walks away from the car without having to touch it. I know of some cars that will only unlock once you've touched the handle.

Just wondering out loud in case anyone knows?

 

[Drago]

Anyone remember when companies would send out promotional stuff through the post and you'd receive a 'Gold' car key, tempting you to enter the compo and thus maybe win the car to go with it?

The company had to stop doing this when someone discovered the key that was sent out in its thousands opened every MKIV Corrina.

 

[Profpointy]

Anyone remember when companies would send out promotional stuff through the post and you'd receive a 'Gold' car key, tempting you to enter the compo and thus maybe win the car to go with it?

The company had to stop doing this when someone discovered the key that was sent out in its thousands opened every MKIV Corrina.

Nah that makes no sense as you'd have had to ban lolly sticks as well. That said, you don't have keys on sardine tins any more. My Dad used to teach in a fairly rough secondary modern years ago and one of the boys had started and driven off a digger. Asked how he started it "I had a key Sir", duly handing over a sardine tin key.

 

[simon.r]

Nah that makes no sense as you'd have had to ban lolly sticks as well. That said, you don't have keys on sardine tins any more. My Dad used to teach in a fairly rough secondary modern years ago and one of the boys had started and driven off a digger. Asked how he started it "I had a key Sir", duly handing over a sardine tin key.

A 1980's compressor (used to power jackhammers) could be started using the dipstick!

 

[Profpointy]

A 1980's compressor (used to power jackhammers) could be started using the dipstick!

To be fair you aren't going to drive it away under its own power

 

[DaveReading]

The company had to stop doing this when someone discovered the key that was sent out in its thousands opened every MKIV Corrina.

If you knew the correct number (FS887, IIRC) you could go into a car accessory shop and buy a key that would unlock all the entry doors on British Airways' Trident aircraft fleet.

 

[NorthernDave]

My dad bought a brand new Cortina Mk1 not long after they came out. IIRC 1966ish.

One day while shopping with my mother he went back to the car early, got in and realised that the glove compartment didn't have his driving glasses case in it. At that point an angry man opened the door and asked him WTF he was doing sitting in his car? Dad's Cortina was two rows over, same colour, same model and both sets of car keys turned out to be able to open both doors.

Further enquiries at the Ford garage came up with the fact that only 5 different keys opened all of the Cortina Mk1s made to that date.

I used to have a Vauxhall Cavalier and on coming out of a shop walked up to "my" car and opened the door to find a complete stranger sat in the drivers seat - and two unknown kids sat in the back - I don't know who was more shocked, me or him!

The car I had been trying to get in had pulled up next to mine while I was in the shop. The future Mrs ND, sitting in my actual car and watching everything unfurl, thought all this was hilarious.
The cars were both the same colour, which is fair enough, but the other one was a lowly 'L' model while mine was the much snazzier 'Commander' model

 

[Tim Hall]

The ignition key of my Mini unlocked the door of my mate's Ford Fiesta.

 

[Buck]

New cars regardless of keyless entry all have a weak link in their security around the OBD port. (The diagnostics port)

This is how many "top end" cars are now stolen. Criminal accesses car (sometimes by simply breaking the glass) then they plug The device into the port. It is preprogrammed to provide the required coding to get the car to think the real key is there and allows the car to start and later produce a copy key.

I bought myself a nice new car this year and it has and OBD Portector installed which effectively stops the criminals from being able to code the car. It is the only Thatcham approved device so gives some nice piece of mind.

Worst case will be a broken window and a bit of cosmetic damage.

Regardless, no matter what we do, some scrote will always try and relieve you of your ownership!

 

[raleighnut]

My dad bought a brand new Cortina Mk1 not long after they came out. IIRC 1966ish.

One day while shopping with my mother he went back to the car early, got in and realised that the glove compartment didn't have his driving glasses case in it. At that point an angry man opened the door and asked him WTF he was doing sitting in his car? Dad's Cortina was two rows over, same colour, same model and both sets of car keys turned out to be able to open both doors.

Further enquiries at the Ford garage came up with the fact that only 5 different keys opened all of the Cortina Mk1s made to that date.

Almost a TMN to me there.

A bit like the old Cortina then,

A mate of mine came out of the pub, unlocked his car and started it. He went to turn the radio on and found it wasn't there so he turned round to look in the back to see if the speakers were still on the rear parcel shelf to find the thieves had kindly left him a 'kiddy seat' fitted.