Pensacola Police Warn of High-Tech Car Theft Tactic: How to Protect Your Vehicle from Keyfob Cloning

A simple metal cookie tin could be all that stands between you and car thieves using sophisticated technology to steal modern vehicles

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Car thieves are using increasingly sophisticated methods to steal newer vehicles, and Pensacola Police are warning residents about a growing threat: keyfob cloning.

Mike Wood, spokesman for the Pensacola Police Department, says he's been analyzing trends in car thefts and has noticed keyfob cloning has become an increasingly common tactic for stealing push-button start vehicles.

How Keyfob Cloning Works

Modern car keyfobs are designed for convenience — they constantly transmit a signal to your vehicle, allowing for seamless entry and ignition.

"If you have that fob in your pocket, all you have to do is walk up to your car, it recognizes that signal coming from your keyfob and it opens the doors, lets you start the car and drive off," Wood explained.

But that same convenience creates a security vulnerability. Wood says thieves exploit this by intercepting the signal your keyfob constantly emits.

"They will take a device and stand on the sidewalk or in your driveway and intercept that signal that the keyfob is constantly emitting while it's sitting there," Wood said. "They will clone another fob...the car obviously just thinks it's you, and they will be able to drive off with your vehicle."

Why You're an Easy Target

Wood says the range of these cloning devices is surprisingly effective, and many vehicle owners unknowingly make themselves easy targets.

"It can go from 10 feet to 10 yards, and you'd be surprised at the amount of people that get home from work, take their keyfob out and put it in a basket right next to the front door," Wood said.

That common habit — storing keys near your home's door for convenience — creates the perfect opportunity for thieves to clone the signal from outside without ever having to break in.

The problem has become more widespread as push-button start vehicles have become the norm rather than the exception. What was once a luxury feature is now standard on most new cars, creating more potential targets for thieves using this technology.

A Simple, Low-Cost Solution

The good news is that protecting yourself from keyfob cloning doesn't require expensive security systems. Wood recommends storing your keys in a Faraday pouch.

"A Faraday pouch is the best thing, it's a pouch that is designed and lined with metal that will block the signal," Wood said.

These pouches are readily available online and at automotive stores. But if you don't have a Faraday pouch, Wood says there's an even simpler solution that might already be in your home.

"A metal cookie container...or anything like that," Wood suggested. "But I want to urge people, if you're going to put it in anything metal, go test it first."

Test Your Protection

Wood offers a simple way to verify your protection is working: "Put the fob in that metal container, walk out to your car and see if your car will unlock just by the box being close...if it doesn't then it's working, if it does then you need something thicker."

The metal acts as a barrier, preventing the keyfob's signal from escaping and being intercepted by thieves' cloning devices.

A Holiday Gift Idea?

Wood even suggested the old cookie tins many families have collecting dust could make unexpected but practical holiday gifts this year.

"Isn't grandma awesome? And she can give these away as Christmas gifts...finally unload them because her grandkids are driving cars with keyfobs," Wood said with a laugh.

A Growing National Problem

The keyfob cloning threat isn't unique to Pensacola. The tactic has become more common nationwide and even worldwide as criminals share techniques and technology becomes more accessible.

As vehicles become increasingly connected and technologically advanced, security experts warn that car theft methods are evolving along with them. While auto manufacturers continue to develop more sophisticated security features, experts say vehicle owners need to stay informed about emerging threats and take simple precautions to protect their property.

For Pensacola residents, that protection might be as simple as raiding Grandma's cookie tin collection — or finally finding a use for those old holiday tins that have been piling up in the pantry.