A man in Washington, DC, wants to warn other drivers after his car was stolen even though he still had the vehicle’s key fob on him.
Benjamin Bragg-Reynolds told Good Morning America that one cold night last winter he ran out to start his car and while the car was warming up, he ran back inside to get his dog.
“(I) went into the house to get the dog. When I turned around to go back out, the car was gone,” Bragg-Reynolds recalled.
Bragg-Reynolds said he took his car’s key fob, something he has done several times in the past without incident.
“My understanding was that you could start it and walk away, but it wouldn’t move unless the key was in the vehicle,” Bragg-Reynolds said. “(I) would never have started it and left it if I had known it could move.”
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According to the Metropolitan Police Department, thefts of unlocked, running cars are an ongoing problem.
“You see cars running in front of restaurants and gas stations. Unfortunately, it’s very common for people to leave their cars running unattended,” said MPD Lt. Scott Dowling.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of car thefts across the country has steadily increased since 2019, and in 2023, more than 1 million cars will be stolen across the country.
Bragg-Reynolds’ car was eventually recovered in Baltimore, but it was an expensive lesson.
“Apparently they took it for a spin. It took several days before I actually got the car. The damage was pretty extensive, the damage to the car was $5,000,” Bragg-Reynolds said.
Automakers recommend that drivers check their car’s owner’s manual for alternatives, such as a remote start feature that won’t move the car without the key fob. They also warn drivers against starting a car and walking away, even with the key fob.
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The MPD also recommends that drivers carry a tracking device, such as an Apple AirTag or Tile, in their vehicle so that in the event of a car theft, authorities can use the device and determine the car’s location. Some local police departments, including the MPD, offer free tracking devices to the public.
Man issues warning after car stolen without key fob Originally published on goodmorningamerica.com
