Car thieves are not just roaming the streets of the Upper West Side, they are walking into homes, grabbing key fobs, and driving off with the vehicles, according to a warning from the NYPD's 20th Precinct. In an alert posted on social media Thursday, precinct officials urged neighbors to tighten basic home security and to rethink where they stash their car keys.
What Police Say Is Happening
In a post on X, the NYPD 20th Precinct said officers have seen thieves slip in through unlocked or weak doors and windows, swipe key fobs from inside, and then take off with the cars. The precinct urged residents not to leave keys or fobs near front doors, windows, or other obvious spots, to consider a radio-frequency identification (RFID) protected lock box, and to make sure doors and windows are locked. The message also reminds people to call 911 to report suspicious activity and to reach out to their local crime prevention officer for a free security survey.
How The Key Fob Scam Works
The technique is often called a relay attack, in which thieves capture a key fob's radio signal and replay it next to a parked car so they can unlock and start it, according to CBS New York. Local reporting has detailed cases on Long Island and elsewhere where crooks used range extenders or cloning tools to make off with vehicles even when the keys never left the house, per WCBS 880. Security experts say keeping fobs away from doors and windows and using signal-blocking pouches or containers can sharply cut the risk.
What You Can Do To Make Your Car A Tougher Target
Police recommend layering your defenses: keep key fobs in Faraday bags or metal lock boxes, add visible deterrents like steering-wheel locks, park in garages or well-lit areas when possible, and use cameras or motion-activated lights to make it harder for thieves to work unseen. The precinct website lists a Crime Prevention contact and encourages residents to request a free security survey from their local crime prevention officer, as detailed on the NYPD 20th Precinct. Authorities repeatedly stress one simple habit: bring fobs into a bedroom or another interior room instead of leaving them by the front door or a nearby window.
Crackdowns And The Statehouse Response
Law enforcement has brought cases against organized rings accused of using key-programming devices and signal-capture methods to steal dozens of cars, according to a 2025 press release from the Queens District Attorney. In response to those kinds of schemes, New York lawmakers have introduced legislation to criminalize unlawful possession and sale of relay and key-programming devices; the bill text for the proposed "Vehicle Security Circumvention Device Act" outlining the prohibitions and penalties is posted by the New York State Senate.
If you see suspicious people near your home or car, police say to call 911 immediately. Residents can also contact the 20th Precinct's Crime Prevention line at (212) 580-7843 for a free survey, per the NYPD 20th Precinct.
