Thieves using ‘relay hack’ to steal keyless cars

Nearly 70% of cars stolen in last year were keyless models, reports Leasing Options' Mike Thompson

The Crime and Policing Bill banned the possession, sale and distribution of the electronic devices. Under new laws criminals caught with the gadgets – including signal jammers – could face up to five years in prison.

Despite this, theft of keyless cars seems to be on the rise. 

Over the past 12 months nearly 70% of cars stolen were keyless models, claims Mike Thompson, chief operating officer of Leasing Options. Thompson is warning drivers with keyless car entry to protect themselves. 

As technology has continued to evolve in vehicles, keyless theft is now one of the biggest risks to car owners. When criminals are trying to steal a keyless car, they use sophisticated technology, which involves manipulating short-range radio waves, to transmit a signal from your key to the technology in your car.

This can be done in a matter of seconds and means criminals can open your car door as normal, allowing them to enter and start the vehicle as normal.

It is worth noting that sometimes this can fail, if there is no signal or if it is blocked for whatever reason, criminals can find a hard time entering. Depending on the car make and model, the car might also require a physical key to be inserted into the ignition to start it. 

How to prevent keyless car theft

Luckily for drivers, there are numerous steps you can take to prevent failing victim to keyless car theft. Despite this there are practical steps drivers can take to reduce their risk. While the idea of keyless car theft might find scary, very few people in the country do have their cars stolen and the police are taking more precautions to prevent it.
 
1. Store your fob safely 
When you are at home, try to store your key away from doors or windows, if you usually store your key in a bowl or on a hook near the front door, consider moving this upstairs to your bedroom. One of the best ways to store a keyless fob is in a faraday pouch, a specialised bag designed to block electronic signals, these can typically be found online for less than £10 and come in a variety of sizes and styles.

2. Turn off wireless signals 
If you rarely use your keyless features, some keys allow you to turn off the wireless technology. Before you do this however, it might be worth practising without it for a few days to see if it is something you can truly live without. The keyless feature can also be difficult to reactivate in the future.

3. Consider additional safety features 
There are also some typical car safety features that can be used:

• Steering wheel lock: Investing in a steering wheel lock is a common method for preventing car theft. They act as a physical deterrent to discourage car theft by making it more difficult to drive the car away. Since it is a visible feature, it is more likely to deter opportunistic thieves. Steering wheel locks also come in a variety of shapes to fit different types of cars.
• Tracking device: Devices like air tags can help you track your vehicle should the worse happen and your car is stolen. A good place to hide them is in the lining of the back seats as criminals are unlikely to check for any types of goods.
• Installing outdoor bollards: Residential parking posts are an ideal solution to making sure nobody can get your vehicle off the driveway. They offer several benefits, including enhanced security by deterring theft and ram-raiding, they can also prevent unauthorised parking and potentially lower insurance premiums.

Mike Thompson is managing director of Leasing Options