Burglar May Have Used Key Programmer To Get Into Cars: Authorities

By LMCS Staff Report, the Lake & McHenry County Scanner

December 11, 2021

Police say that suspects may have used cloned key fobs or a programmer to gain entry to locked vehicles in Island Lake early Saturday morning.

The Island Lake Police Department said they are seeking the public’s help in collecting video of any suspicious activity that occurred in the Fox River Shores subdivision from 2-4 a.m. Saturday.

The Fox River Shores subdivision is off of Route 176 west of River Road.

A resident reported two of their vehicles were burglarized in the 700 block of Newport Drive.

Both were Dodge vehicles and the burglars may have used cloned key fobs or a programmer to gain entry, police said.

Anyone who captured video of suspicious vehicles entering or leaving the area or of any subjects walking around during the above timeframe should email Island Lake Police Officer Hector Matias at Hector.Matias@IslandLakePolice.com.

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Anyone who was the victim of an auto burglary should report it as soon as possible, police said.

Earlier this year, WXYZ-TV, based in Detroit, Michigan, published a story on how a security vulnerability allows for Dodge, General Motors and Ford vehicles to be easily entered and stolen.

Citing a police bulletin, the news report said that criminals were programming new key fobs for vehicles, sometimes within only a few seconds, and stealing them.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.