Theft, but no signs of forced entry...

[barrance]

Does anyone have any idea if it is possible to break into a 2006 RAV4 or 2008 Sienna without the key or physically damaging the car/lock?

A few years ago, the day after Xmas, I woke up and realized that my car was broken into and a bunch of stuff was stolen. It was "only" a couple hundred bucks so it was more disconcerting than anything, but the thing that worried me most was that I didn't see any signs of forced entry. For a while, I thought that maybe I just forgot to arm the car that night and left it unlocked so any random person could walk by and open the door, sit down and rummage through the car in peace. It happened two more times over the past few years, but nothing of value was taken, but it was clear that someone had been in the car looking for something. Since then, I've been very diligent about locking the doors on all my cars before going to bed.

This morning, my wife calls and says that it looks like someone had been in the Sienna since the glove box was open and there was stuff on the seats. I am 100% sure the car was locked last night because I remember distinctly hitting the button on the key fob. Luckily, I had just cleaned out the car over the weekend and there's nothing of value to take, but in the end, I still don't want anyone in my car. The worst thing about it is that the other times with the RAV4, the car was parked on the street directly in front of my house. The Sienna however, is parked in our driveway, so whoever did it actually had the balls to do it on our property.

Does anyone have any clue how this is happening and what I can do to prevent it? Whoever is doing it clearly is just looking for items of value and not interested in the car. I'm thinking about getting an IR security camera, but am not sure what that will do to deter the thieves. Anyone have any ideas?

[vanib]

Can you check if there is a small hole near any of the door handles?
I had a neighbour whose car was broken into when the theif made a tiny hole to somehow unlock the car.

Sometimes, the FOB gets pressed when in my pants and could get the car unlocked. But then, it locks itself back after X minutes.

Like you, I don't leave anything of value in my car. I left it unlocked on several occasions in the driveway. They took off my $20 winter gloves last time!!!

[Blogson]

When I worked at the California border with Mexico, the Mexicans I worked with said that Mexican car thieves had technological gadgets which could overcome any car antitheft system without causing any damage. Whether that was true or not I wasn't able to verify, but a lot of stolen California cars managed to make it across the border into Mexico . . .

[Deathtrap]

Maybe they got it open the same way triple AAA pops the doors when you lock your keys in–a pad they insert in the door jam and then pump up by hand. After that, they use a poker to hit the locks.

My RAV is new, so I'm not sure. Would that trigger the alarm? ^

[barrance]

No alarms on either of my cars, just the factory system that locks/unlocks the cars and has the panic button. Both have the immobilizer, so theft of the actual car wasn't attempted, as far as I could tell.

[Carbon]

Originally Posted by barrance

Does anyone have any clue how this is happening and what I can do to prevent it? Whoever is doing it clearly is just looking for items of value and not interested in the car. I'm thinking about getting an IR security camera, but am not sure what that will do to deter the thieves. Anyone have any ideas?

Possible? Lots of things are possible. Old fashioned lock picking is one way. Cloning your remote is less likely.

The thief would probably be deterred after having the recording going to the police, and him getting charged or at least interviewed. The camera would be great. Plus it could solve the mystery. Now for deterrence the first time, a motion sensor yard light would be cheaper and probably effective.

Keeping the car long? Consider an aftermarket alarm + remote start combo.

[JuneBug]

Let's start with the simplest explanations first. Somebody has made a copy of your key. It could have been done while the oil was being changed, at a car wash, or by a parking valet. At home, do you leave your keys on a table by the door or hanging on a rack? It only takes seconds to make an impression of the keys or even snap a digital photo with a phone. This could be done by the appliance delivery guy or repairman. It could be done by the babysitter's boyfriend or a neighbor kid.

Then there's the device that can record your remote fob's signal and repeat it. This could be done at any parking lot. They wait for you to go into the store, then open the door and get your address out of the glove box. That way they can break into the car in your driveway at night where there are fewer possible witnesses.

If I were you, I would strongly consider getting an alarm system.

[BikerJay]

Originally Posted by Deathtrap

Maybe they got it open the same way triple AAA pops the doors when you lock your keys in–a pad they insert in the door jam and then pump up by hand. After that, they use a poker to hit the locks.

My RAV is new, so I'm not sure. Would that trigger the alarm? ^

This seems by far the most probable.

[Carbon]

Originally Posted by Deathtrap

My RAV is new, so I'm not sure. Would that trigger the alarm? ^

Do you have an alarm? If so, yes. Alarms are not standard.

[Truck57]

Originally Posted by BikerJay

This seems by far the most probable.

Agreed. Time to hang a camera outside if you can and/or tune up the Louisville Slugger