‘She Couldn't Even Get in Her Car:' Woman Goes Out With Friends. Then Someone Patrols the Parking Lot with a Key Fob Reader
'What just happened to me and my friends was insane,' says Jessica Hyde (@jessica.hyde2) in a recent TikTok.
Hyde explains that the incident occurred after she and her friends went out to dinner. When they returned to the parking lot, one of them couldn't get into her car.
Fortunately, Hyde knew a trick. She used it to open the door and decided to share it online. As of this writing, her video has received more than 1.7 million views, with users thanking her for the quick and practical hack.
What's the Hack?
If your car's key fob battery dies, you're not out of luck—you can still unlock and even start your vehicle.
Start by locating the physical key hidden inside the fob. Most have a button or sliding latch to release them. Use that key to manually open the driver's side door. According to Hyde, some cars have a small hidden notch under the door handle, accessible only with the physical key. The exact location varies, so look carefully.
Once inside, if your car uses a push-button start, she says to try this: Hold the dead fob against the start button while pressing the brake. This might be enough for your car to detect the fob and start. If it doesn't work, check your owner's manual or call roadside assistance or a locksmith.
But here's the catch: This maneuver could trigger your car alarm. (That's exactly what happened to Hyde's friend.)
Capital One
warns that some vehicles will sound the alarm unless the car is started within 10 seconds of mechanical-key entry.
To avoid causing a scene, consult your manual or look up your car model online. Some cars have a hidden override button, while others allow you to bypass the alarm by starting the engine quickly.
If your fob is completely dead and your car requires it to start, the good news is most models have a designated spot—often inside the center console or near the cupholders—where placing the fob will still allow you to press the ignition button and start the vehicle.
If your alarm goes off and you need to silence it, there's always the last resort: Open the hood and disconnect the car battery by removing the black (negative) cable from its terminal.
Did the Content Creator Narrowly Avoid a Scammer?
Part of why Hyde was so shaken by her friend's car trouble is that she believes they may have narrowly escaped a scammer.
After using the manual key to open her friend's car, Hyde says the alarm immediately went off, just as several police officers happened to be patrolling the restaurant parking lot. Naturally, they approached to investigate.
Hyde explained the situation. That's when she says an officer revealed a disturbing detail: Someone earlier had been seen tampering with a key fob reader.
'If your key fob is close enough to your car, they can copy your key fob encryption and get into your car and steal it,' Hyde warns.
How Serious is This?
In March,
Fox 29 Philadelphia
reported that three Hondas were stolen from residents' driveways overnight. They were all locked, with the fobs left safely inside the houses.
Police believe the thieves simply walked by the homes and used a wireless key-cloning device to scan for key fob signals. Once they intercepted the codes, it was a high-tech version of hot-wiring.
Most newer cars feature keyless or smart remote entry systems, allowing drivers to unlock or start the car just by having the fob nearby. But this convenience comes with risks. Police say thieves are using aftermarket scanners to detect signals, clone the fobs, and gain instant access.
In some cases, criminals are placing devices under dashboards to extract vehicle data and program it into blank key fobs.
The best defense is surprisingly simple: a steering wheel lock. Police note they are quite effective. Just seeing one can often scare thieves away.
Meanwhile, Upper Providence police advise residents to review their home surveillance footage for any suspicious activity.
Viewers Offer Tips to Keep Cars Secure
A steering wheel lock isn't the only method to protect your car and its fob from potential thieves. Viewers shared additional suggestions.
'You need a Faraday key fob protector,' one commented. 'Get a small Faraday bag to keep the fob inside when you're not using it,' another added.
They're referring to
Faraday bags
, signal-blocking pouches designed to block electromagnetic signals. By preventing the transmission of a key fob's signal, these bags help stop relay attacks, where thieves amplify and transmit the signal to unlock and steal a vehicle without touching the key.
Others used Hyde's story to express frustration with modern car technology and long for simpler times.
'As a tow truck driver, please bring back keys for the ignition,' one person wrote.
'I already dislike push to start,' another commented. 'This just makes me dislike it more. They need to revert to keys in the ignition for all, or at least give the option.'
'They need to bring back cars that use actual keys,' a third agreed.
Motor1
has contacted Hyde via TikTok for further comment.
Now Trending
'It's an Added-In Feature, I Swear:' What Is the 'Toyota Camry Dent' and Why Is It Everywhere?
'Hours at a Time:' Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Driver Says He Loves His Car. Except for This One Thing
Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily.
back
Sign up
For more information, read our
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use
.
Share this Story
X
Got a tip for us? Email:
tips@motor1.com
Join the conversation
(
)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Flooding In Tennessee Damages Countless Cars
Read the full story on The Auto Wire Flooding in Chattanooga, Tennessee made a mess of roads, flooding countless cars and causing widespread destruction. Even worse, at the time this article was written, the death toll was at four individuals, a number which likely will more rain forecasted for the area by the National Weather Service, the flooding is expected to worsen before it gets better. That has officials pleading with people to stay home instead of trying to traverse flooded roads. Numerous streets and neighborhoods are flooded, with cars abandoned as drivers who thought they could make it were forced to leave their rides. Even more shocking, sections of Interstate 24 by the Georgia border have become impassible, thanks to high waters and stalled out cars. Footage taken by a bystander and shared on social media site X shows a man breaking the back window on an SUV to rescue a woman trapped inside. The water comes up to the man's neck as the vehicle floats helplessly in the floodwaters. One of the deceased was found in floodwaters as rescuers searched for someone else who was swept away, reports Chattanooga Times Free Press. The other three deaths were from a family who were in their car when a tree fell on it. The best way to not get into a bad situation when a road is flooded is to not drive down it. Many times, drivers believe the water they're headed towards is shallower than it really is, only realizing once they're literally in too deep that they're in trouble. Everyone should have a glass break in their car, just in case they end up in a situation where they need to escape through a window quickly. Most vehicles will float for a few minutes before they start to sink, and that's when you want to get out. Image via X Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Guggenheim Reaffirms Sell on Tesla Ahead of Austin Robotaxi Launch
Guggenheim on Tuesday maintained its sell rating on Tesla (TSLA, Financials) and a $175 price target, signaling the stock could drop 48% from current levels, after the company's June 22 launch of Robotaxi operations in Austin. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with EBAY. The firm cited CEO Elon Musk's announcement that the service will open to the public next month, earlier than many investors expected, following positive feedback from invite-only riders. Guggenheim analyst Ronald Jewsikow said the move is a key step toward expanding Tesla's full self-driving model into a broader Robotaxi fleet. Tesla shares have fallen 16% year to date but edged less than 1% higher in premarket trading Tuesday. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Geek Wire
14 minutes ago
- Geek Wire
How AI is being used to boost efficiency and security at truck terminal gates
A new automated gate platform from Outpost is designed to capture more reliable data as trucks enter and exit terminals and shipping sites. (Outpost Photo) Outpost, the Austin-based operator of truck terminals across the U.S., announced Thursday that it's rolling out a gate automation platform developed by the company's engineering team located in Seattle. The platform uses computer vision and artificial intelligence in a bid to cut costs, improve security, eliminate entry and exit delays, and automatically capture more reliable data. Outpost trained and tested the platform across more than 1 million gate events at the more than 20 properties that it owns, and is making the technology available to shippers, enterprise fleets, and other terminal operators. Human gate operators have long been considered a necessary cost of doing business across the trucking industry. According to Outpost, staffing a single gate 24/7 typically costs $25,000 per month. But manual checks can miss critical issues like trailer mismatches, equipment condition, and unauthorized access. The gate automation platform is built to understand every vehicle, driver, document, and anomaly, and continuously learn and improve with each gate event. Key capabilities — which enable drivers to enter and exit a yard without stopping — include: Multi-part vehicle identification : Detecting vehicle type, make, model, color, trailer class, and fuel type. : Detecting vehicle type, make, model, color, trailer class, and fuel type. ID and compliance recognition : Reading USDOT and MC numbers, license plates, trailer and container IDs, chassis markings, hazmat placards, red tags, and company logos. : Reading USDOT and MC numbers, license plates, trailer and container IDs, chassis markings, hazmat placards, red tags, and company logos. Damage and safety inspection : Detecting dents, rust, scratches, broken lights, missing mud flaps, tire tread and sidewall issues, improper driver safety gear, and dashboard obstructions. : Detecting dents, rust, scratches, broken lights, missing mud flaps, tire tread and sidewall issues, improper driver safety gear, and dashboard obstructions. Security verification : Identifying seal presence, confirming driver identity through face-to-ID matching, validating license authenticity, and flagging tractor-trailer mis-dispatches. : Identifying seal presence, confirming driver identity through face-to-ID matching, validating license authenticity, and flagging tractor-trailer mis-dispatches. Situational awareness : Tracking equipment movement, speed, full stops, tailgates, and gate malfunctions. : Tracking equipment movement, speed, full stops, tailgates, and gate malfunctions. Document and cargo intelligence: Extracting data from bills of lading and similar paperwork; detecting trailer and container cargo. The platform also features the use of AI voice agents at the gate (see video above), which are capable of greeting each driver, administering standard operating procedures, answering questions, and issuing site-specific instructions. Outpost CTO Greg Akselrod said the company's mission is to 'build the backbone of freight' and extend its technology footprint beyond its own properties. 'By linking carrier terminals and drop yards into a single operational network, we're enabling a new level of visibility and coordination across the freight ecosystem, turning the gate from a cost center into a strategic control point,' Akselrod said in a statement. Omaha, Neb.-based transportation and logistics company Werner Enterprises is an early user of the new platform. 'Outpost is taking the pain out of gate operations,' said Ryan Gass, VP of Safety, Terminal Management, Security and Facilities Maintenance at Werner. 'Our drivers get through faster, our teams have better visibility, and our equipment is more secure.' Founded in 2022, Outpost raised a $12.5 million Series A investment round in April 2024. The company's engineering and marketing center is located in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, with about a dozen employees based in the city and another 10 who report in remotely. Related: Full list of engineering centers in the Seattle region
