Lt. Brian Geer demonstrates how to use steering wheel locks at the Philadelphia Police Tow Squad. Read more Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

by Jesse Bunch and Vinny Vella Published Oct. 10, 2025, 5:00 a.m. ET

Law enforcement officials are warning of a new type of high-tech auto theft that turns a common device — key fobs used in push-to-start vehicles — into a tool for stealing cars.

The Philadelphia region has played host to an increasingly common form of car theft in which criminals copy or redirect the signal emitted by these devices to unlock and start parked vehicles. In some cases, thieves even target key fobs inside locked homes, stealthily capturing their signals from outside and leaving car owners unaware.

It’s the latest trend in auto theft in a region that s

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