It’s 2:15 AM. Your car is parked on the driveway. Your keys are sitting on the front entrance table inside your home, safe and locked away.
Ten seconds later, your car’s headlights flash, the doors unlock, the engine starts, and it drives off into the night—without a window broken, an alarm triggered, or a key touched.
This isn't a clip from a movie. It’s a relay attack, one of the fastest-growing methods of vehicle theft targeting keyless cars across New Zealand.
If your vehicle features a push-to-start button or proximity key, your car is constantly broadcasting a signal, waiting for your key fob to talk back. And thieves are using cheap digital relays to turn your convenience into their access.
How a Relay Attack Works (The Tech Underlying the Theft)
Modern keyless entry systems rely on low-frequency radio signals exchanged between your car and your key fob. When you walk up to your car with the key in your pocket, it recognises the signal and unlocks.
Thieves exploit this exact mechanism using two small radio frequency devices:
Thief 1 near your front door ── Picks up Fob Signal ──> Transmits across driveway ──> Thief 2 near your car ──> Car Unlocks & Starts
The Signal Extender: Thief #1 stands near your front door or lounge window with a signal amplifier to capture the passive signal your key fob emits inside your house.
The Relay Transmitter: Thief #1 instantly relays that boosted signal across your yard to Thief #2, who is standing next to your car door with a receiving device.
The Instant Handshake: The car believes your key fob is standing right next to the driver's door. The locks pop open, the start button activates, and the car is driven away in under 30 seconds.
Because no physical damage occurs, these thefts are quiet, invisible, and frequently leave vehicle owners struggling to prove to insurance companies that their car was stolen rather than left unlocked.
Many insurers require evidence of break-in or clear signs of theft, so if your vehicle simply disappears without obvious damage, you may face delays or difficulties with your claim. It is important to keep documentation, such as police reports, security camera footage (if available), and proof of secure key storage, to support your case with your insurance provider.
The Myth of "Faraday Pouches" from Discount Sites
As awareness of relay attacks has grown, many vehicle owners attempt to protect their keys with cheap $10 pouches ordered from mass-import sites like Temu or AliExpress.
Unfortunately, cheap imports rely on single-layer, low-grade conductive sprays or thin mesh that degrade after a few weeks of folding. A single micro-tear or gap in a budget pouch allows high-frequency cellular, GPS, and key fob signals to leak straight through.
Not sure if your current pouch actually works? Try this simple test: Place your key fob inside the pouch, then stand near your car and attempt to unlock the doors. If the doors still unlock or the car responds, your pouch is not efficiently blocking the signal—and your vehicle protection may be compromised.
When protecting a major asset like your vehicle, an illusion of security is more dangerous than no security at all.
The SCRT Defence: 3-Layer EliteBlock™ Shielding
Stopping a relay attack requires absolute digital isolation—blocking 100% of EM radiation (EMF), RFID, and radio signals so your key fob becomes completely invisible to external scanners.
At SCRT NZ, our gear is built for real OPSEC and built with forensic-grade protection:
- Triple-Layered EliteBlock™ Fabric: Every SCRT key fob protector and storage box utilises three distinct, high-density layers of proprietary shielding fabric.
- Lab-Certified Attenuation: Tested independently by RF Test Solutions in Wellington, delivering verified 40–77 dB signal reduction to guarantee a complete signal blackout.
- Physical Durability: Built to endure daily wear, folding, and heavy use without flaking or signal deterioration.
3 Simple Steps to Lock Down Your Vehicle Tonight
- Isolate Your Fob at Home: Never store your vehicle keys near front doors, windows, or exterior walls. Keep all spare and primary keys sealed inside an SCRT Faraday Key Fob Box. SCRT products are compatible with all major car brands, including Toyota, Mazda, Ford, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Honda, and Volkswagen. No matter what you drive, you can rely on SCRT to protect your keyless entry system.
- Shield On the Go: When out in public, store your fob inside an SCRT Forensic-Grade Key Fob Sleeve to prevent handheld signal skimming in car parks or shopping centres.
- Audit Your Family's Vehicles: If your household has multiple keyless cars, ensure every key—including spare fobs—is isolated.
Take Back Control of Your Vehicle's Security
Convenience shouldn't cost you your security. Protect your vehicle before it becomes another statistic.