A councillor has warned that a professional gang is using scanning devices to copy key fobs through the walls of homes in Cork in what has been described as a “very sinister development.”
The Aontú representative stated that “fearless” criminals are targeting certain car models to steal them for overseas parts.
Aontú Cllr. Peter O’Donoghue said that car owners in some parts of Cork are being heavily targeted by the group.
The councillor noted that the criminals appear highly organised.
“This is a very sinister development, and it appears this gang are professional and fearless,” he said.
“I have been contacted by many constituents following the theft of several vehicles, mainly Skoda and Volkswagen, and it appears these are being stolen for parts to be sent off abroad. What is most concerning is the blatant brazenness of this gang.”
O’Donoghue then detailed a specific incident where a resident thought she saw a face in her window at 10:00pm, before mentioning it to her husband and checking the cameras the following day.
“She mentioned it to her husband the next day and they looked at CCTV and could clearly see a man at their house holding what appeared to be a fob,” he said.
The councillor explained that mechanics have warned about the methods being used to bypass vehicle security systems.
“This seems to be the gang’s modus operandi,” O’Donoghue said.
“Mechanics I have spoken to tell me that they scan the fobs inside houses and transfer the signal to their own scanning hubs, enabling them to steal the cars quite easily.”
He highlighted the calm demeanour of the individual caught on camera outside the woman’s home.
“What is quite concerning is the coolness of this man; he was in their garden for hours and CCTV footage clearly showed him holding what looked like a fob,” he continued.
“At one stage this lady went into her garden to look around and thought he was only some four feet from her, he didn’t panic. He just sank into the shadows and went back to working on the car when the lady went back into her house.”
O’Donoghue added that the ordeal has severely impacted the residents involved, leaving them deeply traumatised and frightened in their own home.
The councillor praised the response of local authorities who are monitoring the affected neighbourhoods.
“Gardai have been absolutely fantastic and have maintained a presence in the area, which is comforting for the people involved and for others in the area who too are fearful,” O’Donoghue said.
“I have spoken to the Chief Superintendent who is strongly advising people to be vigilant.”
He added that the thieves failed to take the woman’s vehicle because she had kept her keys away from the front hallway, before issuing a warning to the public.
“I would urge people not to store their key fobs in places that are easy for thieves to access,” he said.
Relay theft has become an increasingly common method used by criminal gangs to bypass modern vehicle security systems.
The technique involves using specialised electronic equipment to intercept and relay the signal from a vehicle’s smart key, allowing thieves to unlock and start the car without ever needing physical access to the fob.