Police have issued a warning to anyone with a car in one area of Merseyside.
Issuing a statement on its Facebook page, the force alerted anyone who lives or works in St Helens to take extra care with their vehicles following a spate of break-ins. According to police, there has been an increase in thefts of keyless cars in recent weeks.
There are a range of measures you can take to help prevent yourself from falling victim to theft if you have a car with keyless entry.
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Would-be thieves can use a device which hacks into the key's signal, allowing them to start your car from the outside - even if your key is locked safely away in your home. To combat this, police recommend investing in a bag called a Faraday pouch, which can block the signal if your key is inside.
Other suggestions to keep your car safe include: Ensuring your vehicle is locked overnight, investing in additional security measures such as an approved steering lock, and installing security lighting and CCTV cameras.
A statement from Merseyside Police said: "Over the last few weeks there has been an increase in keyless theft of vehicles.
"There are steps that you can take to secure your vehicles and make it more difficult for thieves: Ensure your vehicle is locked overnight. If your vehicle has keyless unlocking/starting - put your keys, including any spares, in a sealed metal container or a faraday case/ Invest in additional security measures such as an approved steering lock. Consider installing security lighting and cctv cameras
"Much more crime prevention advice and information is available on the Merseyside Police website. Report suspicious activity to us:
"Call 999 in an emergency - a crime is in action. Use online reporting or call 101 for all other instances."
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