Watch How Hi-Tech Thieves Stole A Mercedes In Just A Minute Without Using The Keys

A new surveillance video from Birmingham, England shows two hackers exploiting keyless technology to steal a sleeping man’s Mercedes. The entire theft, which occurred in September, took under a minute.

Released by the West Midlands Police Department on Monday, authorities believe it to be the first footage of thieves attacking a car using relay boxes, devices that can be programmed to send signals through walls.

Called a relay crime by police, the heist was incredibly simple.

Each hacker had one box. The first box, placed on the house’s exterior, picked up the signal from the owner’s key fob, sending it to the second box, placed right next to the Mercedes.

Having received this signal, the smart lock “thought” the key fob itself was present, unlocking the door and giving the hackers full access. And because smart keys often come coupled with keyless ignitions, the theft went on without a hitch.

The thieves are still on the run, but the police adviced drivers interested in keyless tech to safeguard their smart cars by equipping them with tracking devices, steering wheel locks or to just use keys.

So technically, any vehicle with keyless entry such as BMW, ford, audi, Landrover, hyundai, volkswagen and Mercedes cars could be vulnerable to relay theft.

Do you think this new trick by hackers will change your mind about the keyless technology?

Credits: West Midlands Police & gizmodo