Vehicles with remote control locks are vulnerable to thieves

If a gate or garage lock is engaged at the same time when a motorist attempts to lock his vehicle via remote control, the locks will not engage, leaving the vehicle vulnerable to thieves.

24 July 2012 | Estella Naicker

If an opportunistic thief engages a gate remote control at the same time when a motorist attempts to lock his vehicle via remote, the locks will not engage.

This leaves the vehicle vulnerable to the clutches of sticky-fingered criminals.
 
Romy and Steyn Vermaas learnt this harsh lesson on Saturday after parking their vehicle at the Newcastle Mall.

According to the Vermaas family, they had parked the vehicle and engaged the locks via remote control, before commencing with their shopping at about 3pm that afternoon.

“We shopped for about an hour and when we returned to our vehicle the items we had placed on our back seat, a cooler bag, USB cable and a CD, were gone. Yet, there was no sign of forced entry,” said Mrs Vermaas.

“After discussing this incident with centre management and with friends, we realised what must have happened. Unfortunately, centre management has told us that they do not have cameras watching the area where our vehicle was parked.”

Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Simon Luthuli, said that he suspected this modus operandi had been used in a number of incidents where items have been stolen out of a vehicle, however the vehicle itself appears not to have been tampered with.

“It is not very common in this area but there have been one or two cases. I advise residents who use a remote to lock their vehicle, to double check that the doors are actually locked before leaving the vehicle. You should also never leave items in plain sight in your car. Instead, lock valuables and parcels in the boot,” said Officer Luthuli.

Source: http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/newcastle/newcastle-news-general?oid=5917204&sn=Detail&pid=4596133&Vehicles-with-remote-control-locks-are-vulnerable-to-thieves