Got this in an email from a friend in the US, is there anything to it? I thought central locking systems had a built in code scrambler to prevent this from happening.

A new way thieves are getting into locked cars.

I locked my car and as I walked away I heard my car door unlock I went back and locked my car again. I looked around and there were two guys sitting in a car looking at me.

When I looked straight at them they did not unlock my car again.

How to lock your car safely.

While travelling my son stopped at a service center. He came out to his car less than 5 minutes later and found someone had gotten into his car, and stolen his mobile phone, laptop computer, GPS navigator, you name it. He called the police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into the police told him that there is a device that criminals are using now to clone your security code when you lock your car using your key remote device.

They sit a distance away and watch for their next victim. They know you are going inside the store, restaurant, or bathroom and they have a few minutes to steal and run. The police officer said to be sure to manually lock your car. That way if there is someone sitting in a parking lot watching for their next victim it will not be you.

When you manually lock your car it does not send the security code, but if you walk a way and use the door lock on your key remote it sends the code through the airwaves where it can be stolen, something totally new to us and sadly real, be aware of this and please pass this note on.

what that guy on Today Tonight i think it was. he didnt need to do that. he walked up to any car and unlock it. hes tool scanned everything from cars to auto garage doors.