With the new hardware that allow crooks to "boost" the car's locking system radio so that it can connect to a key, in a drawer, in your house, and thus open. start and steal your car...

Is it possible to disable the keyless entry facility? I think I'll put our keys into a biscuit tin when we are at home (would that fix it?).

 

Dude, take a chill pill.

 

I get your point but I suppose you don't know how common this is? Neither do I but I've been watching the noise on twitter about it and see it's happening 2-3 times a month in my area. It will get worse.

 

Eve if true (and it sounds like urban legend to me) how far will they get without the actual fob? These cars are useless without the fob long-term. The fob really cannot be recreated easily. I assume you also have insurance?

 

I googled for something to reference re the threat being real:

<deleted - need to find a better reference>

I agree this is no good for a local crook to take and punt the car on quickly but that sort of theft have become pretty rare (I believe) since the coded key systems became common. This would be looking at breaking and/or export which is probably more common in the UK than in the US. For £50k+ motors it has to be worth the effort.

My first notice of that was due to seeing reports from real people on twitter appealing for people to keep eyes out for their stolen cars. I wondered why there were so many instances and how could it be achieved other than key fishing. I was being smug about keeping my keys away from the house doors.

Insurance - yep that helps but see how your premium moves after a theft.

 

The BBC had a TV article about it BBC iPlayer - The One Show - 25/05/2017 starts at 01'50".

and this in the US:
https://www.nicb.org/newsroom/news-r...tarts-vehicles

 

Yeah these devices are out there but you can't live your life in fear all the time. Why not get some old POS and drive it instead? In NY City it is a foregone conclusion in some areas that your car will be targeted so local residents leave them unlocked so at least the windows don't get smashed out.

Any thief with these devices is fairly sophisticated and not looking for a joy-ride or an older Jaguar. I suspect they are targeting new ones.

In answer to your original question, I don't think you can software disable the locks but you could disconnect the receiver and open it with the emergency key (PITA). Not sure how you would start it then probably have to do the "low receiver battery" thing and hold the fob against the trunk release area.