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Possible Car Park Scam !

Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:07pm
19 replies1867 views10 members subscribed
LeckyLes

LeckyLes

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A word of caution  !

Today I arrived at the Lidl Car Park, Los Dolces / 

La Zenia. Upon leaving my car and attempting to set the Central Locking system ,I found the fob non responsive.

After a few tries I was cursing the fob battery and resolved to sort it as a priority.

I was able to lock the car via the ignition key and carry on into Lidl to have my favourite rummage in the middle Aisle 😀

On getting back to my car ,i again tried the fob, finding it once more unresponsive ,and so opened the boot via the key to deposit my nice newly acquired summer wear PJs 😁. 

I needed to call into my lawyers office to sort out a matter.

Dont get too excited now, cos I am not being locked up and away from the Forum just yet. It was a simple Tax matter. 😖.

Anyway I once again locked the car with the key and strolled across the car park heading for said Lawyers office.

Just on leaving, I noticed a man trying his fob repeatedly and then opening and closing the doors of his car , looking bemused.

I asked if he was having problems with his remote fob and he confirmed he was having the same problem as me.

On hearing that, I told him to ensure he can lock his car via the key before leaving it and  immediately  returned to my car unlocked it and drove out of that particular car park and parked elsewhere. 

On attempting to use my fob in this other location it worked perfectly and has continued to do so all day.

Was there someone using a device in that car park to block signals so as people would be forced to leave their cars unlocked whilst they nipped into The shops.?

Hmmmm ! Be extra cautious if it happens to you  ! 

LeckyLes

jimtaylor

Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 4:38pm

jimtaylor

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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 4:38pm

It's happened to me in the Ociopia car park in Orihuela, but only when I park close to the electricity sub-station. When I asked about it I was told that there's some sort of interrupter to avoid the risk of key fob signals stuffing up the electronics. Seems a bit OTT, but logical.

LeckyLes

Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:02pm

LeckyLes

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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:02pm

Have not heard of any instances of car fobs affecting sub stations Jim, but who knows ? 

Definitely no sub station issue this morning though , plus I have parked there on numerous occasions in the past without any problems.

At least I didn't have to search around for a replacement fob battery, as first thought, so there's a plus point I suppose. 

LeckyLes.

Barringtons

Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:19pm

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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:19pm

renaults are renowned for these problems near aerial masts

jimtaylor

Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:20pm

jimtaylor

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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:20pm

At least your car was still there when you got back, so you can be fairly confident that there was nobody nearby with a scanner - either that or they didn't fancy the car or its contents!

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killjoy

Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 6:08pm

killjoy

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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 6:08pm

Official vehicles (mostly unmarked) use jammers to turn any remote device useless in their proximity. Ranges vary. A scanner will "read" your code but not interfere the connection, you won't notice until your vehicle is gone. 

LeckyLes

Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 6:19pm

LeckyLes

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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 6:19pm

killjoy wrote on Thu Jul 18, 2019 6:08pm:

Official vehicles (mostly unmarked) use jammers to turn any remote device useless in their proximity. Ranges vary. A scanner will "read" your code but not interfere the connection, you won't notice until your vehicle is gone. 

Correct Killjoy, definitely a Jammer as opposed to a Scanner !

Hoping, in their frustration,  the intended target would chance leaving the car unlocked whilst they nip into the shop

LeckyLes.

camionpilot

Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 6:47pm

camionpilot

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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 6:47pm

Early fords suffered from this problem , [ a female neighbour fitted new w/less doorbell and then could not start her fiesta]   can be caused thro wireless doorbells , shop tills, automatic barriers, radio transmitters , electric substations   and anti theft barriers all use parts of the 27meg frequency  ,

I had a toad alarm fitted to an earlier fiat van I had , could not park near the salt works , the electronic gate transmitter screwed it up , had to tow the vehicle clear .

Its also a well know problem in the UK , the RAC  and  AA  have scanners that can detect the source , it detects the pulsed transmissions and the mechanic will try to start your vehicle between pulses or they will try to tow you clear of the signal ..!!

Erica

Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2019 2:43pm

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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2019 2:43pm

This also happend to me at Los Dolces but the villa Martine one. My fob would not lock the doors, as i walked away I noticed the mirrors hadn't folded in so kept trying untill it locked. Only to come back one hour later to find the drivers door window broken and all my camping gear missing. If it happens again I will walk around the car park probably to find scum lying low in a vehicle. Double lock on the fob (as I didn't) it would have only cost me the window.

LeckyLes

Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2019 4:21pm

LeckyLes

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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2019 4:21pm

Erica, I'm really sorry to hear of that .

Thanks for sharing your experience, unhappy as it obviously was ,it may help others. 

LeckyLes.

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