A warning has been issued about a keyless car theft trend hitting Greater Manchester.
According to Heycar.co.uk, keyless car theft is a method of stealing a car without using the physical key fob. Thieves can exploit the technology of a car by using a device to break into the car and drive off, without actually having the key.
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Residents in Greater Manchester say they have spotted an increase in thefts of cars with keyless entry, such as Range Rovers.
Dean Bailey, 44, from Heywood, who works in highways maintenance, told the M.E.N. that he has witnessed an increase in cars being stolen in his local area.
He said: " Near enough every week, there’s at least a couple of car thefts. There are a lot of people posting on Facebook, saying 'I have had a car stolen from Heywood ' or Middleton or Bury.
"And these are decent cars, ranging from Golf GTDs to Range Rovers. A friend of mine has a BMW.
"He was in the cemetery, visiting a grave. As he was helping his mother out of the car, someone jumped in and stole the car.
"Luckily, they got the car back. It's just knocking me sick, seeing everybody’s prized possession going missing."
Additionally, Dean explained why the keyless car theft is worrying.
He continued: " I think a lot of people think that new technology in cars is fool-proof. But technology is hackable.
"A lot of cars now have stop-start technology, so they are keyless. Most people have their keys in their pocket and they just get out of their car without even thinking.
"So, it only takes one person to jump in that car and they can press the 'start' button, start the car and drive off.
"For about £100, you can have two visible deterrents in your car if you buy simple things like a steering wheel lock and pedal locks. They're easily available at places like Halfords and Amazon."
Aamir Afzal, owner of vehicle security company CAT-1 in Denton, described the keyless car theft trend in more detail.
He said: "In London, thieves are getting into the vehicle, which is not very difficult, and they’re putting the vehicle into a particular mode which allows it to start up. This trend is coming to Manchester now.
"These thieves are professionals. They don't even need keys, they can start up cars remotely and communicate with the car and drive off.
"They know where the telematics are, so they can disable that within seconds. Honda cars are now also prone to being stolen in this way.
"This is what we're now up against. The thieves are always evolving."
Aamir also offered advice for people to protect themselves from car theft.
He added: " As a vehicle owner, the best thing you could do is have an immobiliser and a tracking system, so that you’ve got the best of both worlds. A lot of companies out there either sell one or the other.
"They don’t sell them together, which is how it should be. I advise my customers to have multiple layers of security.
"A lot of people lock their cars and walk away, assuming that the car is secure, but the thieves can still access the car and the contents inside.
"We offer digital immobilisers which require a PIN code to start the car, so if someone gets a hold of your key, the car will not allow them to drive the car without punching in a PIN code.
"I would also advise people to have a steering wheel cover. Not many people are using them because it’s bulky and you’re having to put it on every time you stop.
"But there is a time where you might be lazy and think ‘actually, I won’t put it on.’ That's when the thieves will steal your car, because they've waited for you to remove your deterrents."
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has a forcewide-led operation called Operation Dynamo, which tackles vehicle theft across Greater Manchester.
Last year, officers from GMP's Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit (TVIU) recovered 454 stolen vehicles worth over £8 million and made 637 arrests for various offences.
Earlier this month, GMP recovered around £90,000 worth of stolen cars across Greater Manchester and arrested four suspects.
Here are ways you can keep your vehicles secure:
- Always double check your car doors and windows are locked and secured properly after parking
- Do not store valuables in your car
- Keep your car keys in a safe place where thieves can't access them easily
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Consider buying Faraday Pouches to store your car keys in- these block your keys' signal and therefore prevent thieves from remotely accessing your car
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Use visible deterrents such as steering wheel locks and pedal locks
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Consider fitting an immobiliser in your car, which stops your car from starting if the wrong key is used
- Install appliances such as car alarms and tracking systems in your vehicles
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Talk to a vehicle security specialist to upgrade your vehicle security
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Stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police via the LiveChat facility of the GMP website or call 101
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If your car has been stolen, inform the police and your insurance company straight away, and have the following details to hand: your car registration number, the make, model and colour of the car
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