Recently, four individuals in Philadelphia were charged with hacking the signals of key fobs to steal and resell cars in the area, as reported by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. This alarming trend of cloning key fobs has become a common method used by tech-savvy car thieves, leading to a call to action from the attorney general for vehicle owners to safeguard their vehicles.
The investigation into these thefts unfolded during a firearms inquiry when one of the suspects was apprehended near a stolen Chrysler 300, with a cloned key fob for the vehicle in his possession. Subsequently, investigators discovered programming equipment at the suspect’s residence, allowing for the manipulation of car settings and cloning of key fobs, particularly in models that require remotes to start the ignition.
Further Information: The thefts in question involved breaking into the vehicles by shattering sunroofs to access the interior and clone the fobs, uncovering a disturbing pattern of criminal activity in the area. Some of the stolen cars were reportedly sold for as little as $200 each.
Various methods have been exploited by car thieves to gain unauthorized access to vehicles, with one involving the use of tablets utilized by locksmiths and car manufacturers to reprogram key fobs. By connecting to ports on the dashboard or through the headlight, thieves can gain access to a car’s network and take control of the vehicle. Additionally, there are cheap gadgets available that enable thieves to relay key fob signals from up to 300 feet away, allowing for remote unlocking and starting of cars.
Aside from the aforementioned suspects, charges were also laid against Kaheem Henry, Kwadir Brockington, and an unnamed juvenile, who were apprehended in a stolen 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. A search of Brockington’s residence yielded more programming equipment, along with firearms and ammunition.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry emphasized the importance of securing vehicles and provided tips, such as never leaving a fob inside the vehicle and using metal containers or signal-blocking pouches for fob storage. She also suggested employing steering wheel locks and tracking devices for additional security measures.
Despite advancements in security systems by automobile manufacturers, vulnerabilities still exist, leading to an increase in hacking-related car thefts. Criminals have been able to reverse-engineer security patches, aided by online tutorials. Last year alone, over a million vehicles were stolen in the United States.
The group from Philadelphia faces charges including theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, possession of an instrument of crime, and unauthorized use of an automobile. The firearms investigation is currently ongoing with the Gun Violence Task Force of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.