Protect Your Vehicle from Keyless Theft

Protect Your Vehicle from Keyless Theft

Vehicles with keyless entry remain a target for thieves using relay devices to capture and amplify signals from car keys kept inside homes. The last such theft took place last week on ALEXANDRA DRIVE, where a HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 was stolen by two suspects (it was recovered later in the day).

If your vehicle has keyless entry or keyless start, we recommend storing your keys in a Faraday pouch when not in use. These pouches block the signal from your key, helping to prevent potential thieves from using relay equipment to gain access to your vehicle.

If you are looking to purchase a Faraday pouch, steering wheel lock or other vehicle security product, we recommend choosing items that carry the Secured by Design Police Preferred Specification accreditation. Accredited products will have been independently tested and assessed to recognised security standards.

Secured by Design accredited Faraday products include:

• Defender Signal Blocker

• Defender Signal Blocker Mini

• Disklabs Key Shield (KS1)

• Disklabs Key Shield Home (KSH)

• Disklabs ID Shield (ID1)

You can view accredited products on the Secured by Design website at https://www.securedbydesign.com/products

Additional steps you can take:

• Store keys away from doors, windows and letterboxes.

• Always lock your vehicle, even when parked at home.

• Use a visible steering wheel lock. Thieves often avoid vehicles that require additional time and effort to steal.

• Enable any additional vehicle security features (such as PIN-to-Drive) where available.

• Test your Faraday pouch regularly by placing the key inside and confirming the vehicle will not unlock or start.

• Report suspicious activity around parked vehicles, especially anyone checking door handles or lingering around vehicles late at night. Call 999 if a crime is in progress or 101 for non-emergency concerns.

While no security measure can completely eliminate risk, these steps can significantly reduce the chances of your vehicle being stolen.

For further crime prevention information visit https://www.securedbydesign.com/guidance/crime-prevention-advice/vehicle-security