Code scanners?

Its been awhile since I've been in here guys but I do have an interesting question for you.  About 2 weeks ago my gf's Explorer got broken into and just her deck and subs stolen.  It was a 2000 and had no signs of forced entry (no alarm either).  A few hours earlier I had my 94 Grand Marquis' alarm go off but by the time I woke up and looked out the window whoever was there was gone.  Went out to my car and all the doors were unlocked.  Thank god for my pager alarm of I wouldnt have heard it.

Apparently the cops around here were saying that someone was using some sort of Ford code scanner/jammer to open up specific Ford vehicles and grab whatever they could fast and run.  Some 4 or 5 cars a night.

Obviously without giving up too much incriminating information, does such a device exist?  I do care about others getting stuff ripped off but I'm not a professional installer and dont want to go around trying to sell people on alarms or me installing them.  Any other advice other than to not keep anything of value in vehicles?  Thanks in advance.

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1994 Mercury Grand Marquis
Alpine Audio

I wouldn't say it's impossbile, but it doesn't make sense.

Also, since your girlfriend's car is much newer than yours, I would somehow doubt that the same scanner could be used to open them both.

If someone had the money to buy, and the technical savvy to operate this code scanner.........would he really need to be out stealing radios?

I used to drive tow trucks for a living, and naturally we often had to unlock cars.......either the owner was locked out, or we were towing the car away for trespassing, the owner wasn't present, and we needed to get inside to release the parking brake or whatever.

Of course accidents happen sometimes, but in general, the idea was that we'd get the car open without breaking or damaging anything..........I don't see any reason the same thing couldn't have happened to your car and your girlfriend's.

You said that on your Grand Marquis, ALL the doors were unlocked, right?

That would suggest a few things:

1. There were two thieves. The first thief gained access to one door, then used the power unlock to let his buddy get in the other side.

2. (More likely) The thief used some sort of long rod or stick to push the "power unlock" button on the door panel, rather than manipulating the lock mechanism itself, and that's why all of them were unlocked.

He would have wedged something between the door frame and the body of the car, and then dropped the tool inside.........open both front doors, and look for fresh scratches around the door frame, or damage to the weatherstripping.

3. Do either of the cars have the optional keyless entry keypad on the exterior of the driver's door?

On Fords, there is one permanent code for that keypad, set from the factory, and you can also add your own new, custom code.

The original code is printed on the brain of the factory keyless entry module.

It would be entirely possible for the car's previous owner (or anyone who had access to the car to learn the code) to use the keypad to open the doors.