Think your car is safe in a well-lit hotel lot? Think again. We woke up in Toronto to find out someone tried to steal our car at 2am. Here’s what happened, and how you can protect your vehicle.
Our Scary Wake-Up Call – A Real-Life Attempted Vehicle Theft
We arrived in Toronto, ON, for what was supposed to the last leg of our summer vacation filled with food (and ice cream, of course), baseball, and family time. After dinner and a ballgame, we returned to our hotel late Friday night and were shocked to be woken up the next morning at 7:30 a.m. by the hotel night manager. Someone had attempted to steal our vehicle.
Thanks to the night manager’s alertness, we watched video footage of the crime: in less than 5 minutes, thieves broke the rear window, climbed in, and tampered with the electronic control panel. Fortunately, they failed—possibly because our room was on the opposite end of the building, keeping the key fob too far away for a signal relay attack.
What followed was a crash course in vehicle security, police reports, insurance calls, and a stroke of DIY genius that helped us get home.
How Car Thieves Actually Operate (And Why We Got Lucky
Our SUV was parked near a camera in a well-lit lot, but even that wasn’t enough.
Car thieves today often rely on a mix of high-tech tools and stealthy tactics to carry out their crimes. One common method is the relay attack, where two criminals work together to exploit keyless entry systems. One thief stands near the house (or building) to pick up the signal from a key fob inside, while the other stands near the car with a relay device that mimics the key, unlocking and starting the vehicle without triggering alarms.
In addition to relay attacks, thieves increasingly use tracking devices like Apple AirTags or other Bluetooth-enabled trackers. These small, easily hidden devices can be secretly attached to a car, allowing criminals to monitor its movements in real time. By tracking the vehicle’s location over days or weeks, thieves can learn a driver’s routine and pick the perfect time and place to steal the car, often when it’s parked in a vulnerable location. This combination of digital surveillance and wireless hacking makes modern car theft fast, quiet, and difficult to detect.
What to Do If It Happens to You – Immediate Response Guide
When your car is targeted or broken into, time matters. Our son was able to reprogram our key fob using a YouTube video—a crucial hack that got us back on the road.
Here are the steps to take if this happens to you:
1. Notify hotel/security
2. Contact local police
3. Call your insurance agent first (or directly to your carrier)
4. Scan for tracking devices
5. Document damage
6. Visit dealership if the car is “bricked” or try to reprogram your keyfob yourself
Lessons Learned – How to Protect Your Car From Tech-Savvy Thieves
Looking back, we were lucky—but now we’re also smarter. We’ve updated our prevention strategy, and so should you.
Top Prevention Tips:
– Physical deterrents: steering locks, wheel boots
– Disable keyless entry overnight
– Scan for trackers regularly
– Install your own GPS tracker
Additional Resources:
What is a Faraday Bag and Why Do You Need One?
How Do Thieves Break Into Cars Using Apple Products?
Prevent Keyless Car Theft
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