Might want to store your PiP fobs in a metal container

This article has already been discussed at:

NYTimes writer gets his Prius broken into by keyfob amplifier | PriusChat
and
Keyless-Entry Cars Vulnerable to Silent Theft | PriusChat

But, yes, the freezer and refrigerator are not good ideas, due mostly to the condensation that happens when they are returned to room or pocket temperature. An RFID-resistant container at room temperature will be much better.

 

i keep mine it the microwave, it's well protected.

 

Hmmm.
I was curious about this and since have some radiant battier material left over from lining my house's attic roof, I decided to perform a quick test. This material is thin, tough and flexible like Tyvek, but reflective like foil. I just walked out to the garage and wrapped my key fob in one layer of this stuff. With the fob wrapped, the car does not respond to my pressing the buttons on the fob, even standing next to the car.

Guess if this news story becomes a real problem, I could always fold up a little pouch for the key fob to "foil" the thieves.

 

Good to know, thanks!

 

Until someone gets a craving for microwave popcorn.

 

at nausium?

yea, it's not a PiP thing ... it's a fob thing, all models ... and by my count, this makes over a dozen threads ... and counting.

 

And why are we doing this? I keep the one I use every day in the car. After over 2 years I replaced the battery because the car occasionally said the battery was low. It still worked fine. I keep a spare battery in the car. The dealer had it 6 months before I bought the car. The other fob is in a desk drawer, virtually never used, it works fine too.

 

...anoither thread said wrap in foil (as mentioned above) works. A can, unless designed to hold in signal, is leaky.

 

and they're stealing hybrid batteries too.

 

I wonder if placing the fob next to a cell phone would work. Half the time my phone produces enough interference to block the fob's signal when I'm standing in front of the car, so...