TL;DR: A Faraday pouch can help with relay attacks, but it does not stop a key being physically stolen from your hallway, kitchen bench or garage entry. Move the keys, lock the approach, and make the property sound occupied before entry.
The panic: relay attacks
A relay attack uses one device near a keyless-entry fob and another near the car. The car is tricked into believing the key is close enough to unlock or start. That method is real, and overseas tests have shown that many keyless vehicles can be vulnerable.
WhichCar reported that relay-style attacks were associated with a large UK theft spike, while also noting that this specific attack appeared rare in Australia at the time of that report. The important Australian lesson is not that relay risk is fake. It is that most households should not ignore the simpler pathway while worrying only about the radio signal.
The Australian reality: the key is the target
Modern immobilisers made hot-wiring far harder. That shifted the target from the ignition barrel to the original key or fob. In evidence to a Queensland parliamentary inquiry, the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council said nearly all vehicle thefts in that context were preceded by residential burglary to access an original key, and that around one in five involved a key left in the vehicle.
Victoria Police has described the same practical pattern in residential aggravated burglary and car theft: young offenders trying doors and windows until they find a way in, then looking for vehicle keys. That means the first defence for the car is often the home-entry routine.
Why modern cars made home security matter more
When a current vehicle cannot be started without the key, the key becomes the easiest route to the vehicle. A thief does not need to defeat the car's electronics if the fob is sitting on an entry table, inside an unlocked garage, or in a handbag near the front door.
That is why advice focused only on the keyless fob is incomplete. A Faraday pouch can block a relay attempt. It cannot stop a physical grab. It cannot lock your side gate. It cannot make the empty house sound occupied when someone approaches.
What actually protects you
Move keys away from the front of the house. Do not use the front-door hook, entry bowl, visible kitchen bench or garage-adjacent shelf. Put keys in an interior drawer or key safe that is not visible from any external door or window.
Never leave a spare in the vehicle. A spare in the glovebox, centre console, visor or magnetic box turns a theft into a no-break-in-required event.
Lock the garage-to-house route. If your garage connects to the home, lock that internal door and treat it as external. Victoria Police car-theft advice specifically highlights the internal garage door because offenders use garages as an entry point.
Use a Faraday pouch as a layer, not a strategy. If your car has keyless entry, a signal-blocking pouch or metal box is sensible. But it belongs after the basic key-storage and entry-point fixes, not instead of them.
Make the approach noisy and risky. A motion-triggered barking alarm like K9-Alert responds at the doorway, garage or side path before someone reaches the keys. It is not a vehicle immobiliser; it is a home-entry deterrent for the point where many Australian car thefts begin.
Protect the route to the keys
K9-Alert makes the entry point sound occupied when movement is detected. No app, no Wi-Fi, no subscription. A$99.95 with free AU shipping.
View K9-AlertFrequently asked questions
Are relay attacks common in Australia?
Relay attacks are real, especially in overseas reporting, but Australian prevention advice still puts heavy emphasis on home entry, key storage and vehicles stolen with original keys. For most households, the first fix is moving keys away from doors and windows.
How are many modern cars stolen in Australia?
Modern immobilisers make hot-wiring difficult, so offenders often need the real key or fob. NMVTRC material presented to a Queensland parliamentary inquiry said nearly all vehicle thefts in that context were preceded by residential burglary to access an original key.
Do I still need a Faraday pouch?
A signal-blocking pouch is cheap insurance for a keyless-entry fob, but it does not help if the fob is physically stolen from inside the home. Treat it as an extra layer, not the main layer.
Where should I keep my car keys at home?
Keep keys out of line-of-sight and out of reach from external doors and windows. Avoid the front-door hook, entry bowl, kitchen bench near the back door and any spare key left in or near the car.
Will a barking dog alarm protect my car?
It helps at the home-entry stage by making the property sound occupied when someone approaches. It is not a vehicle immobiliser, so pair it with good key storage, locked doors, garage-door routines and sensible parking.
Sources
- NMVTRC answers to Queensland parliamentary committee, 14 July 2021
- WhichCar, keyless entry hacking and Australian theft context
- Victoria Police, top tips to prevent car theft
For the broader key-storage checklist, read why thieves target your keys, not your TV. For the budget whole-home setup, start with the under-$200 home security plan.