[Daveyboy123]

This isn’t new. It’s been around for a few years now and people have been told to secure keys in faraday pouches and to keep keys away from doors/windows etc.
I keep my keys in a pouch but you do have to keep checking it as it can’wear off’ after a few months. When it does, you’ll find you can unlock car with key in pouch so you do have to check it to make sure it’s doing the job. You can also buy metal key cases as well which do the job but tend to be more expensive.

some car companies have made their keys disabled if the key is not moved for a few mins. This to me seems the safest way as then you don’t need a pouch as the key stops Giving off a signal. I believe other manufacturers have enabled switches on the key so you can switch off the key when you don’t need it on.

unfortunately for us, kia haven’t redesigned their keys. I had a cee’d for 3 years and the issue was around then. When I traded in for a Sportage I assumed the issue may have been sorted as the keyless relay theft had been in news a number of times by then but wasn’t the case as they key is always active so for us at the moment only option is to pop in a pouch.
Remember if you have a spare key to also put that in a pouch or tin to ensure the signal isn’t transmitted.

 

[Daveyboy123]

I remember when the warnings were about people hiding in car parks with intercept devices. Criminals find ways to beat any security given enough motivation. If I owned an M3 I'd take extra precautions but for my ceed I'll make do with not keeping the keys by the front door. That said, I do think there should be a way to deactivate the keyless, either through motion/software/switch.

I believe the stats show 2-in-1 break ins are still by far the most popular way to steal a car. Relay thefts are still reasonably niche and if you want a positive spin, they do stop those quite aggressive bad guys from entering your property.

Yes agree there that whenever a security device is made, someone will always find ways of getting around it. However, for me the cost of a pouch is far less than having to replace the whole car if someone does steal it but end of the day is up to the individual.
around our area where I live the police have been posting messages in local Facebook pages asking people to secure there keyless cars by putting keys in faraday pouches etc as a number of cars have been stolen recently. My understanding are the cars were all BMWs (I think they ordered and criminals find certain cars then to steal instead of it being random) so I think it’s less likely our kias would be stolen by this method but there’s nothing to say they won’t. Especially as it becomes easier and the equipment becomes cheaper to buy to enable the thieves to do this. By time you realise the car has gone it’s probably in France or it’s had plates changed etc.

 

[Daveyboy123]

Please remember that all of these faraday pouches ‘wear’ as such. I’ve had a number of them over the last 5 years and only purchased pouches which had high reviews from various places. However, they all seem to only last a few months at best and then a new one is required.

I purchased a metal tin for the key a while back and that seems to work for me and doesn’t wear off. However price is more expensive, think I paid £30and also it’s more bulky so doesn’t just slip into smaller pockets but it does seem to do the job.

this is the link to the tin I bought.

VONETTI Premium Keyless Go protection/Aluminium Box for Car Key/RFID Blocking Case/Car Key Safe Box/Car Keyless Entry Fob Guard Signal Blocker Faraday Tin : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Shop VONETTI Premium Keyless Go protection/Aluminium Box for Car Key/RFID Blocking Case/Car Key Safe Box/Car Keyless Entry Fob Guard Signal Blocker Faraday Tin. Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[Daveyboy123]

The relay key theft is only really going to happen at home. So carrying your keys around in these pouches is a bit pointless & a waste of money.

I keep mine in the tin at home so the signal isn’t broadcast as like you say, that’s the time it’s likely to be stolen.

 

[Daveyboy123]

I bought a couple of Halfords finest Faraday pouches when I got my Niro in 2019. One is in daily use and the other has the second key in it. I tested the "daily" one yesterday by progressively moving it away from the car until the key fob was no longer recognized. This occurred when the key was about 5 ft from the car. I also tested it at various heights above ground level and the same result was found from ground level to the key being on the top step of a 5ft high stepladder. This was repeated for both pouches with the same result. So, at about 27months of daily use there appears to be little or no degradation of the pouches. Pretty good I reckon for a tenner each!
My son and daughter-in-law "lost" her BMW X5 overnight a few months back. They kept the key visibly on a windowsill next to the front door.. They got little sympathy from the police, not surprisingly ("it's just another one of many, sir"). They had never heard of a Faraday pouch. When we visited yesterday, there was the key to the replacement Rangerover, sitting on the windowsill nest to the front door! Some people never learn!!! I took them straight down to Halfords and bought them a couple of pouches.....

As others have just clarified, it sounds like your pouches aren’t working as take key out of pouch and do same thing. I think it will probably be same. If I have my key in my pocket but partner tried to unlock the car from the other side, it will not open as it’s out of range of key.
when using an effective pouch, you can hold key in pouch up to the button on door and press it and it will not open (signal not being generated). Try this with your pouch, if you can open with key in pouch next to button on door then the pouch is not working and useless.

 

[Daveyboy123]

Those Faraday cage pouches are mostly rubbish and a waste of money IMHO
Virtually all these car thefts are from outside of peoples homes at night and a simple metal tin will stop the signal dead.
I put our Soul keys in one of these and the spare key is in a separate tin. View attachment 10876

Did you take tin out to car and make sure it blocks signal? I had mine in a small metal tin prior to me buying the metal case designed for the key and because there was small gaps where the hinges were on the tin, it let out the signal and I could open the car whilst the key was in tin.

 

[Daveyboy123]

I had a similar size tin and did the same, it didn't work. I lined it with crumpled kitchen foil, interior and lid, and that worked. However after a some regular use the foil flattened and the tin failed to block the signal again, you have to replace the foil frequently. I'm thinking of buying a proper Faraday box next.

The link I posted to the metal box for the key on Amazon on here definitely works for me and is designed for this purpose and not had any issues myself. However, it’s whether people can justify the high price of the box. But for me I’d rather spend that than have a £25k car stolen.