My son leaves a key fob locked in a consol vault in a 2017 Lariat with push button start. If someone breaks a window and sets off the alarm will they be able to start the truck?

 

Yes. If you want your truck stolen, just leave it there.

 

why would the alarm go off? The truck sees the key fob inside the truck and thinks it's the owner getting in.

 

The interior alarm will still go off with a dog in the truck even if the fob is inside the truck. So I believe that the alarm would go off with a broken window.

 

Quick experiment
Sit in the truck. Leave driver window lowered.
Open/close the door after shutting off vehicle.
Secure FOB.
Lock door using the touchpad
Move around while to trigger the alarm.
Push the start button. Did it start?

It is quite amazing how many people store a FOB that costs hundreds of dollars in a locked $65,000 vehicle.
Fortunately I've read only the one story here on the forum where a person's vehicle was actually stolen.

An additional story was one where the vehicle was broken in to and the FOB was taken. Owner had to take vehicle to Ford to have new Fob's programmed so the stolen one would not work if/when the thieves came back at night or followed him to work.

I think there have been 2 cases where an ex was able get in because they knew the key code. Once they simply unlocked the door like usual, they could start the vehicle and drive off.

Yes, I have locked the FOB in the truck while out someplace. Do I do it at night when it could be stolen, nah.
I have left it only when going for a run or bicycle ride. Doesn't take much for a thief to break in and rummage through the glovebox, etc -might as well take it one step further and first press the green button.

To each their own. Leaving a key in a vehicle isn't wise, ever. Less wise in pushbotton start situation as they don't have to actually find a hidden key to drive off.

 

Thanks to all who responded. My son is going to try the open window method. I think that then he will believe me that he is setting his truck up for a bye bye.

 

Aside from the whole alarm thing -what happens if he forgets to lock the door?

We get in routines and don't really forget, but is possible. Also is highly unlikely that a thief JUST SO HAPPENS to open the door on the day your son forgot to lock it.

I suppose I get it. If you can trust the vault to protect the key (at whatever minimal cost it is relative to the vehicle), why not put full faith in Ford that the truck alarm will do the trick.

Tough situation -however, if I lived at home and had a 3 year old $60,000 vehicle I'm pretty sure my dad would find a way to convince me that I was being stupid.
Trying to think of a way I would convince my son -but was never blessed enough to be a family man.

Not implying anything, -just guessing that your son is young enough to be around a lot, not living separately with his own family elsewhere.

 

I will leave my key in my truck every now and then and if i put it in the back passenger corner under the mat the truck wont be able to sense it.

 

You could probably place the key in a farraday bag and then lock it and the truck would not be able to start.

 

I don’t have push button start but I regularly leave my key locked in the truck. Don’t need it to leave my pocket while walking in the bush or going ice fishing. Whole reason why i love the number keypad. Break ins are rare where I live being a smaller town.