South Dublin residents have been left extremely concerned as to how to protect their vehicles after several cars were broken into overnight using a special device.
Three separate cars were broken into on Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday morning in the Scholarstown area.
It is being reported that the thieves had used a transponder or something similar to gain access to the cars.
A transponder device receives a radio signal and automatically transmits a different signal.
In order for this device to work, owners of keyless cars are targeted and cheap gadgets that copy the key signals trick the car's computer into opening the locks.
This is done by using two people - one person near the house where the key is situated and the other beside the targeted vehicle.
The person standing beside the house picks up the signal given off from the fob key.
That signal is then sent to the person beside the car who can then gain access to the vehicle.
Although the trick can be used to start a car, none of the ones broken into were taken in this instance.
A spokesman for Gardai told Dublin Live that "several items were taken from each vehicle. No material damage was caused and investigations are ongoing."
