Caution When You Lock Your Car

As your North County Realtor, I like to pass along consumer protections tips when I run across worthy material.  After reading the article below,  I don’t plan on changing how I lock my car, but I plan to be more aware of my surroundings.  If there is any question, lock your car manually.  Read the info below the photo.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

How to Lock Your Car and Why……Not a Joke!

I locked my car.  A s I walked away I heard my car door  unlock.  I went back and locked my car again  three times.  Each time, as soon as I started  to walk away, I would hear it unlock again!!  Naturally alarmed, I looked around and there  were two guys sitting in a car in the fire lane next  to the store. They were obviously watching me  intently, and there was no doubt they were somehow  involved in this very weird situation.  I quickly chucked the errand I was on, jumped in my car and sped away.  I went straight to the police station,  told them what had happened, and found out I was part  of a new,  and very successful, scheme being used to gain entry  into cars.  Two weeks later, my friend’s son had a similar happening.. 

While traveling, my friend’s son stopped at a roadside rest to use the bathroom.  When he came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later, someone had gotten into his car and stolen his cell phone, laptop computer, GPS navigator, briefcase…you name it.  He called the police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into, the police told him he had been a victim of the latest robbery tactic — there is a device that robbers are using now to clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your key-chain locking device.

They sit a distance away and watch for their next victim. They know you are  going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom and  that they now have a few minutes to steal and run. The police officer said to manually lock your car door-by hitting the lock button inside the car — that way if there is someone sitting in a parking lot watching for their next victim, it will not be you.   

When you hit the lock button on your car upon exiting, it does not send the security code, but if you walk away and use the door lock on your key chain, it sends the code through the airwaves where it can be instantly stolen.       
This is very real.   

Be wisely aware of what you just  read and please pass this note on.  Look how many times we all lock our doors with our remote just to be sure we remembered to lock them — and bingo, someone has our code….and whatever was in our car.   

Other consumer protection articles for your review:

Identity Theft in San Diego – Avoid It – Report It

Identity Theft – Don’t Get Scammed

Identity Theft – You Made It, Now Keep It!

When looking for a great North County real estate agent, contact Gary Harmon, I care about you!   Gary specializes in Encinitas homes, Oceanside homes for sale, Carlsbad homes for Sale, San Marcos real estate and Escondido real estate.  Gary also specializes in San Diego Ocean View homes.

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