This used to happen all the time with 'rolling code' BCM systems. Basically, the car sits outside a cellphone tower which is sending it the equivalent of a million different access codes, which the computer thinks are attempts to enter the car. It quickly overloads the allowable attempts and freezes the locking. Towing the vehicle out of the range of the cell phone tower proved effective in the cases I was familiar with, for the vehicles made by the EvilDoerNefariousAutomotiveMultinational I worked for at the time but the problem looked like it was solvable when I worked there (about 7-8 years ago) so I assume if this is the problem in NY then it might be slightly older cars affected.