Thieves are cloning key fobs for certain vehicles in order to steal them, experts say

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) — Car thieves are using key fob cloning technology to steal vehicles in Las Vegas, according to authorities.

DMV officials said the word has been spreading on how to do it, similar to social media challenges that led to widespread thefts of older Kia and Hyundai models.

Las Vegas Metro Police said the thefts related to the trend are taking place locally.

State DMV officials said expensive cars like Hellcats and Chargers are being targeted.

Brian, a Las Vegas resident, said thieves broke into his Dodge Ram truck by smashing the passenger rear window, climbing inside, cloning the key fob and then driving away.

How the theft method works

John Decker, chief of the Nevada DMV Compliance Enforcement Division, said the thieves can infiltrate someone’s key fob if that person leaves it near the front of their home, where thieves can intercept the fob’s signal.

“Gain access to that by standing by the front door, because the smart keys only work from a few feet away. But if they can grab that signal, they can broadcast it out to the vehicle that’s sitting in the driveway or on the street, and then gain access to the vehicle from that, start it and steal it,” Decker said.

Decker said people should not leave smart keys near the front of their homes.

Decker said thieves also use this method in other states to steal vehicles. They then bring stolen cars to Las Vegas or try to sell them on social media using fake VIN plates.

“We don’t recommend buying a vehicle off of social media. But if you do, we do recommend that you conduct the purchase in a DMV VIN inspection station,” Decker said. “Have the VIN inspection done first before any cash exchange exchanges hands. It’s free. You’re going to have to do it anyway if the car came from out of state in order to register at Nevada. So, it makes much more sense for DMV VIN inspectors to look at it, make sure it’s not stolen first.”

Prevention measures

To help prevent vehicle thefts, Las Vegas Police said drivers should park their cars in a garage if possible or install a hidden kill switch to protect their vehicles.

Brian, the Las Vegas resident whose vehicle was stolen, said he had an anti-theft device installed at Capital Tint and Customs after his truck was recovered. John Bernal, CEO of the business, said the system prevented a second theft attempt.

“The aftermarket alarm system basically takes over where, even if the key was duplicated, as long as the vehicle’s armed, it can’t be stolen,” Bernal said.

Brian said police arrested people in connection with his truck’s theft. Las Vegas police confirmed the VIPER task force has made several arrests related to these thefts but did not provide additional details.

The thefts are not limited to Dodge vehicles but affect other makes as well. Stellantis, which owns Dodge, was contacted for comment.

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