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With the right tools, crooks can steal your car without ever touching the keys

California police are warning of a surge in high-tech auto thefts targeting key-fob signals and onboard computers.
Thieves are now using tablets, antennas and signal boosters to unlock and start luxury vehicles without ever touching the keys.
Authorities urge drivers to adopt new countermeasures from kill switches to Faraday bags as criminals evolve their tactics.

The times they are a-changing and so are the methods car thieves use to strike. Police departments are alerting residents to a troubling wave of technology-driven auto thefts that bypass traditional security systems and allow criminals to drive off in seconds.

In Anaheim, Calif., Police Sgt. Matt Sutter saidthat detectives are investigating two distinct types of high-tech thefts involving luxury vehicles over the past weekend, both more sophisticated than anything most departments have encountered.

Back when I started, you could pretty much steal a car with a screwdriver, Sutter said in a Patch report. But as cars advance in technology, suspects who want to steal these cars have to be more creative and use technology to carry out their heists.

Thieves now hacking cars by tablet or by signal

According to Sutter, one method involves thieves breaking into a vehicle and plugging a tablet directly into the cars computer system. Once connected, they can reprogram the system and simply drive away. That takes forced entry, he noted.

But another technique requires no break-in at all.

In a case reported in Anaheim Hills, thieves used an antenna-like device to capture and amplify the key-fob signal from outside a house even though the keys were inside the kitchen. The boosted signal was transmitted to an accomplice waiting beside the car, allowing the vehicle to unlock, start and disappear.

A victim described the incident to KTLA-TV, saying one suspect appeared at the front door as if he intended to break in. Instead, he held an antenna over his head, harvesting the fobs radio signal through the walls. Who would've thought someone would come in with an antenna and take your car away from you? the resident said.

Police urge residents to adopt new defenses

Police say that residents can take steps to protect their vehicles as thieves become more technologically adept. Among the most effective tools is a kill switch a hidden device that prevents a car from starting by cutting off the electrical or fuel system, even if a thief has the signal or a reprogrammed key.

Officers also urge residents with garages to park inside whenever possible and to avoid storing key fobs near front doors, where signals are easier to intercept. Keeping fobs deeper inside the home reduces, though doesnt eliminate, the risk of relay attacks.

Other protective options include Faraday bags, which block radio signals and are available online for as little as $5. Snopes.com also tested a popular DIY suggestion wrapping a key fob in aluminum foil. The foil worked sometimes in blocking signals, the outlet reported, but wasnt foolproof and must be removed before driving.

Yes, wrapping your cars key fob in foil or placing it in a metal container or special pouch might keep its signal secure from criminals, Snopes concluded. However, these methods would likely not be foolproof.

As police and thieves continue a technological tug-of-war, smart consumers will assume their vehicles may be more vulnerable than they think and take precautions now rather than after a car disappears.

A guide to slash your monthly bill, not your coverage

• Audit your bill: Separate the base service plan cost, device payments, add-ons, and fees so you can see your true bare-bones price and spot anything you dont actually use

• Call and negotiate: Tell your carrier your target monthly amount and ask for cheaper plans, loyalty discounts, and to remove extras like insurance, hotspot, or streaming perks you dont need

• Lock in lower costs: Downgrade data if you never use it all, consider prepaid or MVNO options on the same networks, and stop upgrading phones every cycle so your bill can actually drop over time

If your cell phone bill has quietly turned into one of your more expensive monthly bills, youre not alone. Between device financing, insurance, add-ons, and surprise fees, its easy for a $60 plan to creep past $100 per line.

The good news is this is one of the easiest monthly bills to cut if youre willing to do a little homework and possibly leave your comfort zone (aka the Big Three carriers).

Heres my step-by-step playbook to lower your cell phone bill while keeping very similar (or identical) coverage. Ive even included the questions to ask and the exact scripts you can use when making the lets get my bill lowered phone call.

Step 1: Figure out what youre actually paying for

Before you call anyone or consider switching, pull up your last 12 cell phone bills and do a quick audit of exactly what you have.

Breakdown your monthly billby the following:

• Service: your base plan(s) per line
• Device payments: include monthly installments for phones, tablets, and watches
• Add-ons: insurance, hotspot add-ons, international features, subscriptions
• Taxes & fees: some unavoidable, some are junkand optional

Then write down:

• Total per month
• Total per line
• How many months of device payments are left on each phone

Use this information to look for two things:

Bloat: this is the stuff you dont really use, but pay for anyway because youre on autopay and have never stop to consider if you need it. This includes things like insurance on a 4-year-old phone or an extra hotspot you never touch.

Base bill: this is how much youd pay if your devices were fully paid off and you removed any unnecessary extras. Think of it as the dollar amountyou pay so your phone works like a smartphone and not a brick.

Make that base number your target number moving forward.

Step 2: Decide if youre willing to leave the Big Three

The fastest way to drop your bill is often to leave AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile and go to a cheaper option that still uses their networks and towers, known as an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator).

Examples include:

• Visible by Verizon (runs on Verizons network) - Base plan is $19/mo. for 26 months. You get unlimited 5G data, talk, and text.
• Cricket, H2O, AT&T Prepaid (runs on AT&Ts network) These services average between $25-$45 per month for unlimited wireless.
• Mint Mobile, Metro, Google Fi (runs on T-Mobiles network) These wireless services average between $15 - $40 per month.

These plans often cost half of what youre paying now for similar data, especially if youre on a family or multi-line plan.

The trade-offs:

• You usually pay for phones upfront or bring your own.
• You may not get priority data in congested areas.
• Perks like streaming freebies and free upgrades are limited.

If youre not ready to switch carriers yet, you can still save by switching within your current provider.

Step 3: Call your carrier with a script

Once you know your numbers, call your current providers customer service or loyalty/retention department and see what they can do to help you lower your bill.

Heres your simple script:

Hi, Ive been a customer for a while and my bill is higher than I can afford. Right now Im paying about $___ a month for ___ lines.

Im seeing other carriers offering similar or better plans for less. Can you walk me through any lower-cost plans, loyalty discounts, or promotions that would help bring my bill down if I stay with you?

At this point,let them talk and you just take notes.

If they can only offer you minor savings, follow up with this question:

Is that the best you can do if Im willing to switch to a different plan or remove features Im not using? Id really like to stay, but I need to get closer to $___ a month.

I always like to start with a realistic target in mind (say, $40$50 less than youre paying now). If they cant get close to that number then thats your sign to explore other carriers.

Step 4: Cut add-ons and features that raise your bill

Some quick wins that dont change your coverage at all include the following:

Device insurance:

• Worth considering for brand-new $1,000+ phones if you cant afford a replacement.
• Much less useful for older devices or budget phones.
• If you have multiple insurance plans (through your card, employer, or a third party), you may be double paying.

Ask them this:

Can you tell me exactly what Im paying for insurance, and on which lines? Lets cancel it on any device older than two years.

Check unused features that often hide on your bill:

• International calling packages
• Extra hotspot data
• Premium voicemail or cloud storage from your carrier
• Streaming bundles you never use

Askthem this:

Can we go line by line and remove any add-ons Im not actively using?

Paper billing / other junk fees:

See if you can knock off a few dollars by switching to autopay and paperless billing.

As long as youre comfortable keeping a close eye on your statements, this is an easy to way save a few bucks every month.

Step 5: Downgrade your data (most people are overpaying)

Unlimited sounds like the safe and smart choice. But in reality, a lot of people never get close to getting their money back on it.

On your bill or carrier app, check actual monthly data usage per line for the last few months.

If you see numbers like 3 GB, 5 GB, 8 GB per month, ask:

What would my monthly cost be if I switched from my current unlimited plan to a 10 GB or 15 GB plan per line? Do those plans still include a hotspot?

If you end up switching to a not-unlimited plan consider doingthe following:

• Turn on Wi-Fi Calling at home and work to use less cellular data.
• Pre-download music, podcasts, and maps on Wi-Fi.
• Turn off background data for nonessential apps.

Pro tip: You'll often find thatswitching from premium unlimited to a more basic unlimited, or even a plan with a set data limit, can easily cut your bill by $20$40 per line.

Step 6: Consider a prepaid or MVNO plan and bring your own phone

If your current carrier wont play ball and your phones are either paid off or unlocked, its time to price out some of the alternatives I mentioned above.

Look for the following:

• Plans in the $15$35/line range with enough data for your needs.
• Multi-line discounts that drop the per-line price further.
• Intro offers that dont lock you into long contracts.

Important things to verify with the carrier before you switch:

• Your phone is compatible and unlocked.
• Taxes/fees arent going to add another 30%.
• What happens to my bill after any promo period ends.

If youre nervous, try moving one line (a teenager, a secondary phone) first as a test.

Step 7: Stop the upgrade treadmill

I realize its nice to have the newest and greatest iPhone or Galaxy as soon as its released ever year.

But one of the biggest reasons many wireless bills stay high is that consumers continuously switchto the newest phone and they always finance the upgrade.

If you can stand it, heres a powerful hack that will keep you off the hamster wheel:

• Keep your phone at least one extra year after its paid off.
• When the battery starts to lose its efficient, get a cheap battery replacement and extend its life.
• Only upgrade your phone when theres a functional need, not just a new camera trick that you can live just fine without.

Then, when you do upgrade, consider:

• Buying last years model (or even 2 years ago) at a discount.
• Buying gently used or manufacturer-refurbished.
• Paying upfront instead of rolling everything into your monthly bill.

Separating your phone cost from your service cost is one of the best ways to see what youre truly paying. It also tells you where you need to cut.

Bottom line

Remember that your cell phone bill is not a fixed cost. But rather its a bundle of choices, fees, and habits that you can absolutely renegotiate.

To recap, heres your frugal playbook moving forward:

• Audit your bill and know your real per-line cost.
• Call your carrier, ask for retention/loyalty, and use a calm script.
• Cut add-ons, downgrade data if youre overpaying, and rethink insurance.
• Be willing to switch to prepaid or an MVNO if they wont meet you halfway.
• Step off the constant-upgrade treadmill so your service bill can actually go down.

Even knocking $30$60 off your monthly bill is $360$720 a year back in your pocket. Solid savings for the same phone and the same number, just a smarter setup.