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Police warn of growing use of inexpensive key‑fob programmers in vehicle thefts; clearance rate remains low
Summary
Milwaukee police briefed the committee on declining auto-theft totals from the 2021 peak but warned of a new trend: inexpensive key‑fob programming devices available online that allow thieves to start and steal many modern vehicles. The department reported a roughly 6% clearance rate on vehicle thefts and urged residents to take deterrent steps.
Milwaukee police told the Public Safety & Health Committee that auto thefts have declined from a 2021 peak but remain an active public-safety problem, and that a new trend is complicating investigations: inexpensive key‑fob programming devices sold online that enable thieves to reprogram vehicle keys.
Inspector Paul Lau of the Criminal Investigation Bureau described key‑fob programmers such as Autel devices that, he said, "are readily available to purchase on Amazon for $500 to $600" and can be used within minutes to program a new key fob once thieves gain access to a vehicle. Lau said the department has seen the tool used in higher-profile incidents, including thefts tied to armed offenders and to some homicides.
The department reported that auto thefts fell from 10,316 in 2021 to 6,374 for the full year 2024; however, year-to-date counts and clearance rates remain a concern. MPD reported a roughly 6% clearance rate for vehicle thefts—similar to national averages for property crimes but low in terms of return-to-owner outcomes.
MPD said it has distributed public-safety tips, advised owners of vulnerable vehicles to use visible theft-deterrent devices (steering-wheel locks), suggested dealers install port passcodes on vulnerable models, and is tracking incidents that involve programmers to build evidence. Alder Coggs, who sponsored the communication, asked that the file be maintained as an annual report so the council can track trends and responses; the committee placed the communication on file for follow-up and requested MPD share data by vehicle make and model.
