Shoppers left puzzled as key fobs mysteriously stop working leaving them unable to get into cars at Tesco car park
SHOPPERS were left puzzled after their key fobs mysteriously stopped working in a Tesco car park.
Police say they received around 100 reports in three days from people unable to get into their vehicles in Royston, Herts.
Some baffled customers blamed aliens for the problem, while others pointed to the full moon.
One woman, who did not want to be named, said: "My fob wouldn't work, some lady couldn't stop her alarm going off and there were at least three other car alarms going off.
"I thought it was some kind of alien phenomena."
Hertfordshire Police said they have not identified the cause of the issues, but officers are seeking radio wave jammers.
Communications watchdog Ofcom is also investigating.
Numerous people have come out of the supermarket laden with groceries but have been locked out of their cars because the key signal would not work.
Some heavily-laden shoppers were panicking that frozen food in their trolley could defrost in the unseasonable heat.
They said if they couldn't load up their cars and get home to their freezers, the food could be ruined.
A spokesman for Hertfordshire Police said: "We have received a number of calls from members of the public who have not been able to access their vehicles in the car park of Tesco in Old North Road, Royston.
"For reasons yet unknown, there appears to be an issue in this area with key fobs not functioning correctly.
"Police constable Taranvir Gill has attended the Tesco branch with Ofcom, which is the UK's communications regulator and conducted a survey.
"An investigation is now underway, led by Ofcom with the support of PC Gill, with the manager of Tesco aware of the ongoing work."
PC Gill said: "We wish to reassure residents that we are fully aware of the issues affecting intermittent access to vehicles in this car park.
"If you have any problems accessing your vehicle, please do not panic."
Instead customers should go to the Tesco customer service desk and speak to the on-duty manager, who will then contact Ofcom.
The Ofcom reference number is 1138558, and people can direct any questions to [email protected].
Although the case is still under investigation, police have long been aware of radio jamming devices which can block signals for remote central locking.
In a similar story at Sainsbury's in Aylesford, Kent, in 2016, there were fears that thieves were jamming the signals to prevent owners from being able to lock their cars.
They hoped shoppers would give up and go to the store, leaving their vehicle wide open to being rifled or even stolen.
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A spokesman for the RAC said at the time: "Our engineers will sometimes be called to reports of a car fob not working, and when they tow the car a little way up the road, it begins working again.
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"These fobs work on a very low frequency, so radio masts shouldn't interfere with them.
"Things like CCTV cameras and baby monitors run on the same frequency however."