Patent attributes
A theft prevention system capable of preventing theft of a target object by disabling the authorized key of the target object in the case where the authorized key has been stolen. When the authorized key is lost, a mobile telephone instructs a vehicle control device to set a warning mode. On receipt of this warning mode instruction, the vehicle control device sets warning mode, generates an electronic key, and transmits the generated electronic key to the mobile telephone, which receives and stores the electronic key. Once the warning mode is set in the vehicle, locking and unlocking are only possible using the electronic key. If the authorized key is found, the mobile telephone instructs the vehicle control device to set the normal mode. Upon receipt of this normal mode instruction, the vehicle control device sets the normal mode in the vehicle.