If you read Jalopnikthen you probably love your car enough to avoid confusing it with another one in the parking lot, but a Montana a man recently did the exact same thing when he mistook a random red Honda CR-V for him and drove away. Vincent Zepeda was allegedly in a hurry to pick up Pizzabut when he jumped into the car and started backing up, he noticed something strange dog in the backseat. Zepeda realized it was a red with identical specifications Honda CR-V he parked next to his car, and even though the stranger’s car didn’t have a roof box or hood like his, he jumped in, started it, and drove away.
Most people know to lock their cars and take their keys when they leave, but it’s likely that rural Montanans are less likely than most to fear vandalism. With most newfangled ones keyless start technology, cars will start when you press the start button as long as the remote control is inside the vehicle. The car doesn’t know whether you are its rightful owner or not, it only knows that its keys are inside.
I grew up in a metropolitan area where you quickly learn to lock car doors and keep valuables out of sight, but I’ve been to places where this wasn’t normal for people. Even if you live in an area with a low crime rate, it’s best to lock your doors, and regardless, it’s best to remove your key fob from your car when parking.
Thieves have innovative ways to break in car theft, and some experts even recommend not leaving your car remote control on a hanger by the door or on the kitchen counter. This is because they have ways of capturing the radio frequency of the key fob and using it to gain access to the car, even if it is locked and the key is safely inside. Still, the best way to keep your car and everything in it sheltered when you’re not around is to lock the doors and remove the key from the vehicle. Don’t make it basic for someone to steal your car or, worse yet, the furry friend you left to take a nap while you grab a pizza.
