Car crooks are buying £20k devices to steal keyless cars | UK | News

Car thieves spend more than £20,000 buying expensive devices online that can break into cars without keys, accounting for more than 60% of this year’s vehicle thefts.

Vehicles with keyless entry allow drivers to unlock, start, and lock vehicles using a key fob rather than physically inserting a key. But criminals have seized expensive devices that trick the car by reflecting the signal from the key inside a nearby property.

A new law that will ban these devices is approaching. But experts say it is unlikely to stop gangs from borrowing them, according to the BBC. The majority of vehicle thefts this year occurred from keyless models.

These devices sell for up to £22,000, with buyers quickly making the money back by cracking open cars like Lamborghinis and Maseratis. Some disguise themselves as Bluetooth speakers and help crooks steal potentially 10 cars a week.

A woman whose car was stolen from outside her home in Wolverhampton described it as an “invasion”. The doorbell camera recorded footage of the gang of thieves. They had driven away in just two minutes.

“Even if they don’t physically enter the house, you don’t feel safe,” he said. They walk back and forth to find the signal. I didn’t know such a thing existed, I had no idea.

“It took them a total of two minutes to arrive, look at the vehicle, receive the signal and leave.”

The AA’s Jack Cousens said: “The days of smash and grab are on the wane. As vehicles become more technologically advanced, thieves are doing whatever they can to stay one step ahead of the game. That’s why we’ve seen an increase in flag theft across the country.”

Drivers with keyless vehicles are advised to check whether their vehicle has settings that can be changed to disable keyless entry use.

To prevent criminals from dangerously confronting you at night and stealing your keychain, don’t take it upstairs before going to bed.

Vehicle owners can also purchase Faraday bags, which are protective cases that block the signal a fob sends to the vehicle.