Car theft is on the rise in 2024, with a shocking 5% increase compared to last year. If you thought your electronic key fob made your car safer, think again. Thieves are getting smarter, using simple tools to unlock and steal cars without any forced entry. But there’s a surprisingly easy way to protect your keys—and your ride—while you sleep.
How thieves use radio frequency amplifiers to steal cars
Modern cars often come with so-called electronic key fobs that send signals to unlock, lock, and start a vehicle. The idea is to keep your car safer, but these signals can actually become a weak point. Criminals use devices called radio frequency (RF) amplifiers to intercept and duplicate these signals from a distance.
Here’s how it works: one thief stands near where you might leave your keys—maybe inside your home or by the door—and captures the signal from the key fob. This signal is then relayed to another thief waiting by your car. Using the cloned signal, they unlock and start the car as if they had your actual keys. With some setups, this high-tech “relay” attack can happen in mere seconds.
Sometimes, thieves even use signal jammers to stop owners from locking their cars in the first place. While jammers don’t copy signals, they do make it easier for thieves to get inside your car unnoticed.
How a microwave can protect your key fob
Here’s the surprising part: you can block these hack attempts with household appliances like your microwave oven. The metal walls and door of a microwave act as a Faraday cage, blocking electromagnetic signals from entering or leaving. This means that if you keep your key fob inside the microwave at night, thieves won’t be able to pick up the signal to hack your car.
If using your microwave for this feels risky—after all, turning it on with your keys inside could cause a fire—the refrigerator offers another good option. Its metal structure also blocks signals effectively, though not quite as thoroughly as a microwave.
Just a word of caution: never turn your microwave on with your keys inside. The electric arcs created can cause serious fires!
Alternative ways to block electronic signal theft
If appliances feel like an odd choice, you don’t have to go that route. There are plenty of metal boxes or specially designed signal-blocking pouches you can buy. These containers function essentially as Faraday cages too, stopping signals from escaping.
Make sure any box you pick has no gaps or holes and fits your keys snugly for maximum signal-blocking effect. You can find affordable options on popular online marketplaces like Amazon for less than $10.
These signal-blocking pouches are a great investment if you want peace of mind without fumbling keyboards or appliances late at night.
A personal lesson about car key safety
I’ll admit, I was skeptical when I first heard that keeping my car keys in the microwave would help stop thieves. But after a friend lost their car to one of these relay attacks, I became serious about protecting my own keys. I bought a simple signal-blocking pouch, and it’s become part of my nightly ritual—right next to my phone charger and wallet.
Little steps like this remind me how quickly technology can both help and hurt us. What seems high-tech and secure today can become vulnerable to a basic radio relay device tomorrow. The best defense is staying informed and taking easy precautions.
Have you ever been close to a car theft or lost your car to an electronic break-in? What steps do you take to keep your car safe? Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts and questions below. Protecting our cars from these invisible attacks is a community effort!