“The single most important bit of crime prevention advice I could give to anyone who owns a keyless car would be to ensure you have a Faraday pouch where you can keep your keys when inside your home – this will block any signals and prevent criminals from making off with your vehicle.”
Det Insp Darren Ambrose, Burglary Team
If your vehicle is fitted with a contactless key it can be vulnerable to a type of theft called 'Relay Theft.'
Criminals use a wide range of electronic devices, key cloning devices and other tools that can be easily obtained to target your vehicle.
The criminals, who may be part of an organised crime group, frequently work in pairs to target specific or vulnerable makes of vehicles by using cloning devices that have the ability to 'grab' the signal from your smart key so that it appears to the car or van that the key is present.
The whole process can take as little as 60 seconds and for safety reasons, the engine won’t cut out when the key is out of range.
Your vehicle is most vulnerable overnight, particularly if parked on your driveway or directly outside your home where most of these thefts occur.
Manufacturers and industry bodies have been working to combat Relay Theft for many years – if you are purchasing a new car please speak to your car dealership about the latest features to prevent this.
If parking outside on your driveway it can also be worthwhile making sure your vehicle is covered by CCTV and/or PIR security lighting.