HPS providing free faraday bags to Hamilton residents

In conjunction with a Provincial Auto Theft Task Force initiative, and funded through a provincial government auto theft grant, Hamilton Police Service has acquired a limited amount of faraday bags to be distributed to members of the public at no cost.

A faraday bag is a small pouch designed to store vehicle key fobs and block the electronic signals they emit. Auto thieves have devices and technology to detect, boost, and use the signals emitted by a key fob to start a vehicle parked in a driveway, without actually using the key fob. This is especially true if keys are left near the front door or a window.

While supplies last, the free faraday bags can be picked up at the Ward 15 Constituency Office, located to the right of the Flamborough Municipal Centre desk, which can be found inside the Waterdown Public Library at 163 Dundas St. E.. Ward 15 Constituency office staff are available by appointment, or by drop-in each Thursday from 2-8pm. Supplies are limited, first come first serve. Further, faraday bags can also be secured by visiting the front reception area of Station 30, located at 400 Rymal Rd East in Hamilton. 

Watch these YouTube videos for information about the bags and how thieves utilize electronic signals to steal vehicles:

HPS has identified the top ten makes and models of vehicles that are commonly stolen in Division Three, which includes Waterdown / Carlisle / Flamborough. The top two vehicles are the most often stolen using the RFI signal method that the faraday bags are designed to prevent. 

• Dodge Ram 1500

• Ford F150

• Honda Civic

• Toyota Tundra

• Chevrolet Silverado

• Honda CRV

• GMC Sierra

• Honda Accord

• Jeep Wrangler

• Hyundai Elantra

• Toyota Corolla