Can you break into a car without damaging it?

Q: Is it possible to break into a car without the alarm going off?

Angel Borges, owner of Angels Auto Care Service Center in West Palm Beach tells us it is possible for thieves to break into cars without setting off the alarm, and breaking a window is one of the easiest ways to do it. If I bang on [the window] before I break it, no alarm goes off.

Q: Can someone break into a locked car without breaking window?

Its true—it is possible for someone to break into a car without breaking a window. Some other methods of entry that the thief may have used include: An unlocked door. An unlocked trunk.

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If you’ve owned a car for awhile, chances are you’ve locked your keys inside. You can pay to have a professional break into your car for you, or you can just learn how to do it yourself to save both time and money.

Note: This should go without saying, but do not use this knowledge to break into someone else’s vehicle. That is illegal and not particularly nice. Use this to unlock your car when you lock your keys inside.

According to YouTuber assertivecrystalgg45, all you need is a door stop/wooden wedge and a long metal rod. To break in, you insert the wedge into the top part of the driver’s side door until it makes a small opening. Then you can stick the long metal rod into that opening and use it to push the unlock button on the car. This works much better with electronic locks but can be done with regular locks as well.

If you have a normal lock, you may also be able to use a crimped plastic strap to lift it into the unlocked position. Which method will work best will depend on what type of locks you have, so before you go out and get your materials be sure you’re getting the right stuff.

Personally, I was able to break into my car using a small putty knife instead of a wedge. A wedge would’ve been more effective, as a putty knife is flat, but thanks to the old days of Mac mini hacking that’s what I happened to have lying around.

Presumably a wedge will work better since it can create a wider opening. This won’t be a problem when it comes to getting the rod through the door, but it should make it far easier to navigate the long way to your tiny unlock button. If you have any ticky tack (or something sticky) to put at the end of the rod, this also may make it easier for you to push difficult and/or small buttons.

All in all, this looks to be a very effective method for breaking into your own car so long as you have these tools handy. Despite how it may look, it’s pretty easy to do this without damaging your vehicle. If you can manage to only lock your keys in the car when you’re home (or near a hardware store), you’ll be in good shape!

You can check out the full video below:

[Via YouTube]

This story originally appeared on Jalopnik.

More From Lifehacker Australia

Getting locked out of your car isn’t an uncommon issue. Whether your keys were stolen, lost, or misplaced, you have several options to solve your problem. However, one solution some carowners are weaning up to is by breaking into their own car.

It’s advisable to seek a door lock service even if you’re in a rush. While breaking into your own car is technically legal, but it can lead to severe consequences. Before you lose your cool, here are some reasons why breaking into your vehicle is a bad idea:

You Might Find It’s Harder Than You Expected

You may have seen countless tutorial videos or scenes in crime movies of people picking door locks. Those characters always manage to open the door after a few seconds, but that might not be the case when you attempt to do it with your car. In reality, cars purchased within the last few years feature excellent anti-theft technology, making it much harder to break into them. If you make the wrong maneuvers, you could trigger its alarm with no means of turning off.

You or Others Nearby Could Get Injured

When you are overwhelmed with panic, breaking your car windows can be a tempting solution. However, glass isn’t easy to break like in the movies. Windshields, for example, are shatter-resistant. This means they are durable against blunt force so you’ll need sharp tools if you need to break into them.

Another reason why it’s a bad idea to break your car windows is some of the glass could hit you and others around you. Besides being unable to open your car, you might also have to go to the hospital for glass shard injuries.

Before you even consider your medical bills, you should consider the hundreds of dollars it will take to replace broken car windows. Unless you are dealing with an emergency, avoid breaking car windows at all costs and resort to reaching out to a locksmith instead. They are equipped with the necessary tools, knowledge, and skills to open your car doors without injuring anyone.

You Could Damage Your Car

Besides a house, a car is likely one of the biggest purchases you will ever make. Since it’s a considerable investment, you should really think more than twice about breaking into your own vehicle and doing significant damage. For instance, you might bend the door the wrong way or break the lock. Unless you have a background of dealing with cars in a garage, it’s best to seek a professional lockout service instead.

You Could Get Arrested

Even though you have good intentions, passersby and police officers are likely to think you are committing a crime once they see you breaking into your own car. Worse, you might end up getting arrested if you have no way of proving that the vehicle you are breaking into is yours or the appropriate registration documents with you.

Conclusion

With multiple tutorial videos and self-help guides available online, you might think it’s a good idea to break into your own car in case you get locked out of it. However, not all step-by-step instructions will work for you. You will also have to find one compatible with your car’s model and the year of manufacture. For this reason, it’s recommended that you hire automotive locksmiths who know how to safely unlock your car.

If you need help from automotive locksmiths in Cincinnati, OH, reach out to Allied Lock and Door. We offer key duplication or lost key service for your car, RV, or truck. Contact or visit us today!

Is it possible to break into a car without the alarm going off?

Angel Borges, owner of Angel's Auto Care Service Center in West Palm Beach tells us it is possible for thieves to break into cars without setting off the alarm, and breaking a window is one of the easiest ways to do it. “If I bang on [the window] before I break it, no alarm goes off.

Can someone break into a locked car without breaking window?

It's true—it is possible for someone to break into a car without breaking a window. Some other methods of entry that the thief may have used include: An unlocked door. An unlocked trunk.