Many Remote Control System Cars Been Broken Into!

August 25, 2013

Engineering professor warns his students from high-tech criminals break in to the remote control system cars.

Latest Innovative remote control for new cars may not only have the ability to help facilitate the ease of access in car’s but may in return become a double-edged sword for criminals to use as a tool for car theft. Such events have occurred with several car owners, some have had no idea about it.

Mr. Dusit Suksawat Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Techology, Lat Krabang, states that it has been found that some brand of remotes the signal can be interfered which disables the open locked/ closing of car doors. This is an easy pathway for theft, which will automatically block the remote control from functioning normally, which could result in two cases either the opening of the cars door or the closing of the cars door.

It started off with many students cars being broken in, so I tried to find the reason behind how it happened? It was likely that the car remote control system was the reason behind the theft because all the cars that have broken in or been robbed uses the same remote radio signals stated Mr Dusit.

Mr Dusit said that there is currently no system to prevent these remotes from being disabled. The only way is to use a traditional key to unlock the car instead of the remote control method. He also states that he hopes to find a solution so that this matter could be ceased and so that people’s property could be protected.

Mr. Manat Downey, director of technical services Toyota Motor Thailand, claims that they are no abnormalities in the remote control system. He states that the reason behind the remote control system not working could be due to many reasons such as the interference of other radio signals, nearby magnetic wave, remote control signals and even the transformers all of this could be factors in causing interference which in return causes the disability of the remote control system. The driver of the car must see by himself that the car is locked just by looking at the beeping light or listening to the sound the car makes one time, which signifies the car has been locked, if the car beeps twice it means that it has been unlocked. The car owner could decide whether they wish to have the beeping sound or not but they are not able to customize the beeping lights that appears each time the car is locked or unlocked.

Mr. Manat also stated that another reason that could disable the cars remote control could be due to the remote battery running low. The cars conditions in which the remote control appeared not to function have not been looked at yet. However, Toyota will explain the technical reason behind this to their customers on March 25.

Mr. Manat stated that all equipment limitations and techniques have then identified on page 28 in the manual. Mr. Manat said that the remote control for Toyota cars only reaches up to 5 m in radius this is due for safety reasons. But these current cases might have had high-tech criminals scan or detect the radio waves to commence their theft.

The current car remote systems have two functions 1. Just one wave or known as the single signal which can be identified by a key sticking out. 2. The second is a double signal can be identified by a small box key. The double signal uses a smart entry which has a way to access into car which means that the car can be unlocked or locked without having to use the key. The system has its own defense measures meaning when its parked in a public area such as car parks the signal could be jammed which will result in the car remote not functioning claimed Mr. Manat.

The Honda automobile (Thailand) training team explains that there are two kinds of remote signals 1. Analog 2.Digital. Analog signals cover a radius of 4-5 m and if any signal interference is identified the car will be unable to lock. As with the digital signal it covers a radius of 30 m and is much more sophisticated than the analog signals resulting in less interference.

The new states that “car owner that have opted to use the remote control system or digital signal must be more careful, by checking the car door car each time before walking away from the car. Also the car driver should make it a habit to monitor the car and ensure that it is locked safely.