Opportunist vehicle crime is preventable, if you can’t take them with you, you simply need to ensure that valuables are not left on display and that you close windows and lock your car doors whenever you leave it.

Unfortunately though some relatively common makes and models of cars are been targeted at this time, across the local area by organised criminal groups, who appear to be prepared to travel considerable distances to locate the cars they want, often as they are worth more to criminals and easier to dispose of as parts rather than as an actual car.  Over the past few months BMW's, Mercedes, Mustang and Lexus cars have been targeted repeatedly.

If you have a car that requires a physical door/ ignition key, make sure you don’t leave it unattended and at home don’t leave it on display on a window sill or in the entrance hall where it can be “fished” out through your letter box. Some thieves have been known to break into a home in order to simply locate and steal keys for a car that was outside on the driveway.

However increasingly modern cars have keyless entry and ignition systems, these may be more convenient to the car owner but thieves have developed various ways of overcoming the manufacturers security.

Either they utilise electronic devices whilst outside a house to scan for the signal which the vehicle’s key will be transmitting, and then use devices to transmit the signal to the car, to unlock doors and start the ignition without causing any damage.

A vehicle keys electronic signal can be contained by using a purpose made “Faraday Pouch” readily available on line or in car stores, however dropping them in a tin can or storing them in a metal box will also prevent the signal been picked up by a scanner.

Recently though, as featured on BBC’s “The One Show” this week, it has become apparent that certain models of car have design weaknesses that enable thieves to readily access certain physical electronic components and then override the vehicles computerised security in order to gain access into the car and then to start its ignition.

Because of these potential vulnerabilities Police recommend that when provided owners fully utilise the manufacturers security systems, possibly as simple as ensuring a PIN code is entered, so that like a bank ATM card or home Wi-Fi it can’t be used by anyone who doesn’t know the security number.

Police also recommend owners of such cars also consider utilising tried and tested forms of physical security 

Examples are; 

 In addition to these measures having your driveway or parking space covered by motion activated lighting and good quality CCTV will be a deterrent. 

If you have seen anything suspicious, have any CCTV or Dashcam footage of suspects, or know anything about these thefts please report this information to police by dialling 101 or using the Thames Valley Police on line reporting portal found on their website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk
If you want to remain anonymous or don’t want to speak to the police you can pass any relevant information via the independent charity Crimestoppers  on 0800 555 111 free of charge.

 

For more advice on how to keep your vehicle safe, visit the Thames Valley Police website; www.thamesvalley.police.uk

 The attached CCTV image is of an actual offender scanning for a cars key signal outside of the owners home on our police area.