Vigilance called for over keyless car thefts

Wiltshire Police are urging people to be vigilant of their vehicles following the theft of two keyless cars in Salisbury on Sunday (16/04).

Two Range Rovers appear to have been stolen by way of relay thefts – a form of keyless car theft where the signal from a key for a so-called “keyless entry” car is captured by somebody standing outside the victim’s house using a device.

The vehicles were found this morning by officers working jointly with our colleagues in Hampshire Police, and we are in the process of returning them to their owners.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “We would encourage keyless car owners to put the key card or fob in a Faraday case/pouch – a special bag with a metal lining – to block any transmissions, and to use a steering lock where possible – an ‘old school’ security measure that is also a visual deterrent to would-be thieves.”

Here are some more crime prevention points to consider which could prevent a vehicle from being taken:

• Keep your vehicle locked, windows shut and your keys secure.
• Park the vehicle in a locked garage where possible.
• Where possible, park in a well-lit area and in clear view of your property and any CCTV cameras.
• Do not leave any valuables such as wallets, phones, Sat Navs etc on display.
• Mark the items of property/tools that are stored in the vehicle using an artificial DNA property marker such as Smartwater or SelectaDNA.
• If you have a second, non-keyless vehicle, park that behind the high value one.
• Check with your car dealership as they can offer advice and the manufacturer/dealer can often track the vehicle if it is stolen.
• If the vehicle is a company car, check with your fleet managers who can offer crime prevention and tracking advice.

Call 999 immediately if you see a crime in progress or any suspicious activity around vehicles in your area. Note the registration numbers of vehicles and descriptions of those involved.