Cars have gotten smarter over the recent years — with many able to park or, even drive, themselves.
And, police say, thieves have gotten smarter too, in how they are able to access and steal vehicles.
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To combat this, on Thursday, the Philadelphia Police Department launched the “Together, We Can Prevent Auto Theft” campaign that is intended to help residents stay one-step ahead of thieves.
“We are going to target some of the new ways that, through our investigations and some of our data, we see that cars are being taken in some of the sections of the city,” said Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore during the day’s event.
Police plan to kick off this event by sending officers to areas that are being targeted by car thieves.
However, police didn’t specify exactly where these hot spots for car theft are. That’s because, Philadelphia Police Lieutenant Brian Geer, of the Major Crimes Unit said, there are areas “all over the city” where they see issues.
But, one place that they see it more often is high-populated areas of Northeast Philly, he said.
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Also, officials said, the initiative will see community workshops and social media messaging in place to help alert residents to some of the new tactics thieves are using to break into vehicles.
One of the biggest issues they see, is thieves making their own key fobs and using them to steal vehicles.
“What they have moved on to is actually making their own key fobs,” he said. “And we’ve seen a transition from when we had a carjacking problem. A big thing for that was you can steal somebody’s car and still have the key for it. So now, without having to use a gun and rob somebody, they are able to take a car and make their own key and reuse the vehicle.”
During the day, Geer suggested some anti-theft items for drivers, like Faraday bag, which drivers can put key fobs in and blocks electronic signals, to keep hackers from copying that fob’s signal in order to steal a vehicle.
Officials said officers will do outreach through this initiative over the next coming weeks and there will be future community events were free steering week locks will be distributed, as well.

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