Several insurance investigators have reported about a new type of device that allows thieves to break into cars that have keyless entry systems. Aside from giving thieves' access to the cars, investigators added that the same device could start a stolen car.

Non-profit organization National Insurance Crime Bureau said that it was able to get ahold of this "mystery device" from a third-party security expert based overseas. The organization added that it had not received a report that the device was used to steal cars in the United States. However, the crime bureau said that it had received reports of the device being used in Europe.

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The National Insurance Crime Bureau tested the device for two weeks and found out that it can hack into 35 different makes and models of cars, according to Fox News. Aside from gaining access to these cars, investigators said that they were also able to start and drive almost half of the cars that were tested.

Among the confirmed cars that are vulnerable to this hacking attack are the 2015 Ford Edge, the 2016 Chevrolet Impala, the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, and the 2017 Toyota Camry.

In a statement acquired by Los Angeles Times, National Insurance Crime Bureau president and chief executive Joe Wehrle said, "We've now seen for ourselves that these devices work. Maybe they don't work on all makes and models, but certainly on enough that car thieves can target and steal them with relative ease."

Law enforcement agencies said that while there are several hundred thousands of cars stolen every year, only a small fraction of these were stolen using a high-tech hacking technique like the one demonstrated by the insurance watchdog. Some law enforcement officers said that while they have received complaints about cars being hacked and stolen, they were not able to get ahold of these hacking devices to conduct further investigations on the issue.