Relay Attacks, Key Cloning and GPS Jammers: How Cars Are Stolen Now, and What Stops Them
Car theft has changed. The picture most of us carry, a smashed window and a hot-wired ignition, is out of date. Today's thieves are quiet and fast. They don't need to touch your keys, and they often leave no sign of how they got in.
The good news is that vehicle theft is falling. NICB counted 659,880 vehicle thefts in the U.S. in 2025, down 23% from 2024. But that's still one vehicle stolen every 48 seconds. Here's how the three most common high-tech methods work, and what actually stops them.
1. Relay Attacks
If your car has keyless entry and push-button start, it unlocks when it senses your fob nearby. A relay attack exploits that convenience.
One thief stands near your front door with a device that picks up the signal from the fob inside your home. A second device near your car relays that signal, so the car believes the key is right beside it. The car unlocks, starts and drives away.
This isn't theoretical. When NICB tested a relay device on 35 vehicles, it opened 19 of them and started and drove away 18. The test was informal and the technology has moved on since, but the lesson stands: a keyless fob inside your house can still be used against you.
2. Key Cloning
Every modern car has a diagnostic port. It's there so technicians can service the vehicle, but key-programming devices can use the same access to program a brand-new key in minutes. Once a thief has their own working key, your car's factory immobilizer treats them as the owner.
3. GPS Jammers
Many owners rely on a tracker or a connected app to find a stolen car. Thieves know that too. Cheap jammers block GPS and cellular signals, so a tracked car can still vanish without a trace. Jammers are illegal to sell or use in the U.S., but that hasn't stopped thieves from carrying them.
READ: Your Car Can Be Stolen in Under 60 Seconds — Here’s How to Stop It
Why Tracking Isn't Prevention
Trackers help after a theft, and only if the signal isn't jammed. By the time you're watching a dot move across a map, the damage is done. Recovered cars often come back damaged, stripped or used in other crimes, and you're still dealing with insurance, a rental and lost time.
Prevention works differently. Titan works at the vehicle: when it's armed, the car won't drive away, key or no key. A relayed signal doesn't help a thief, a cloned key doesn't help, and a jammer doesn't change the outcome.
READ: GPS Tracking Is Useless If Your Car's Already Gone
Simple Steps You Can Take Today
Whatever protection you have, these habits make you a harder target:
- Store keyless fobs away from doors and windows, or in a signal-blocking pouch.
- Park in a garage or a well-lit area, and use a visible steering lock as a deterrent.
- Keep your vehicle's software updated and check for manufacturer security recalls.
- Don't leave spare keys or garage remotes inside the car.
How Titan Protects Your Car
Titan is a covert unit integrated by trained fitment engineers, usually in about 45 minutes. You arm it with your phone in the Titan Secure app, or let auto-lock do it for you, and you get a tamper alert the moment something's wrong. If someone tries to drive off with an armed car, it stays put.
You can get Titan through participating dealerships: ask for Titan Secure when you buy or service your vehicle. Or send us your ZIP code and vehicle and we'll connect you with the nearest participating dealer or integration option.
