Car broken into. remote does not work

Check that the "SKS" button isn't pushed. It is the button on the left under the steering wheel.

Hope it's that simple.

 

A break-in with no sign of forced entry? So it must be possible to use a shim on a Prius.

Are you certain that it was locked?

 

If a slim is used, it can bugger up the lock rod assembly in the door. Do the power locks still work? Checked on SKS button. If you approach the car, does the little red LED in the FOB work?

We need way more information here.

 

Ok, where is your second FOB? Do you store the FOB nearby?

We've debated this before and with the rolling code used in the Prius, it's highly unlikely - but not impossible - for somebody to just "record" the signal and play it back

In 2005 a computer science team from John's Hopkins, partnered with RSA, was able to use a parallel FPGA array to hack a Ford chip-on-key system

RFID crack raises spectre of weak encryption | InfoWorld | News | 2005-03-17 | By Paul Roberts, IDG News Service

Yes, they were able to start the vehicle. This exploits a known weakness in domestic car "security" but I'm unaware of anybody actually "hacking" a Prius

 

I think the odds are vanishingly small. It's more likely you left the car unlocked.

Tom

 

If they broke the SKS encryption, then they would most likely have driven the car away too. SKS gets you in the door, and enables the Power button. So most likely they got in the door, either because it was unlocked or they hacked the mechanical lock. Once inside, the Power button requires either inserting the keyfob into the dash or having an SKS recognition. The keyfob in the dash uses a different technology than the remote/SKS radio transmission.

They obviously did understand the KEY switch, and pressed it just to make you think that they cracked the whole system.

The mechanical lock can be defeated with lock pick equipment, a bump key, or by using a slim jim tool.

One time when I locked myself out of another car, it took the tow truck operator all of about 30 seconds to use a slim jim on it.

 

Again, the probability is very low - but not zero - that this particular Prius was "hacked"

Either a common car theft device, eg slim jim, was used, or the car was left unlocked

 

Some aftermarket alarm systems feature a "Valet" switch that is typically located in nearly the same position as our SKS button. Perhaps your thief thought pushing it in would disable / silence the alarm function.

 

Yeah, I gotta vote for "left unlocked" also. Sorry.

 

Regarding breaking into the car with a shim, I'm loathe to advertise it but it is possible to break into a prius the same as with any car. A SHIM or screwdriver helps. Naturally breaking a window is possible, although that clearly wasn't what happened here. Once you prop the door open you can do the same thing as to any car (I won't go into details). The alarm (assuming you have one) will keep going off until the door is closed at which point I believe it autolocks (that's what appeared to happen the one time I saw this done). Luckily the car it was done to was not my prius but someone elses parked below me on a lift at a parking garage (they didn't leave their keys and set their parking break making moving their car nearly impossible).

The positive side is that even once your in with the alarm going off, you can't drive off. Stealing a Nav or loose change is possible but the car will not move without the SKS.