A warning has been issued to drivers in one part of Merseyside after a spate of car thefts.
Officers from Merseyside Police said they have received a number of reports of vehicles being stolen from the West Derby area in recent days. They urged people to be vigilant of "keyless theft", also known as "relay theft".
This type of theft is when a device is used to fool the car into thinking a key is close by and this unlocks the car and starts the ignition. Thieves only need to be within a few metres of a car key to capture the signal, even if it’s inside someone's home and means even if the car and home are secure, thieves can still unlock, start and steal a car.
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To prevent this, police have advised people to consider using steering wheel locks and use pouches or tins to store their keys in. A faraday box or bag blocks the signal from the fob.
If someone has a spare key to their car, police said to keep this in a foil-lined, metal tin with a lid.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "Please be vigilant to keyless theft of motor vehicles. We have received reports of vehicles being stolen from the West Derby area and would like to advise owners to secure their vehicles as best they can.
"Consider steering wheel locks and use of pouches or tins."
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