Ford Fiestas at risk as keyless car thef t soars

DRIVERS of keyless Ford Fiestas are being targeted by thieves as part of a hi-tech crime spree.

Police say crooks hack into the cars with electronic devices sold on Amazon and eBay.

Although all models of keyless cars have been stolen – including luxury BMWs and Range Rovers – owners of Britain’s most popular vehicle have been among the hardest hit.

Cleveland Police said they have had 90 reports of keyless cars being stolen since December – and half of them were Fiestas (pictured right), the country’s best-selling vehicle for the past decade.

Since 2008, when the keyless technology first became available, more than a million Fiestas have been sold to Britons. Overall, more than 4.5million Fiestas have been sold since 1976.

Cleveland Police said each of the cars was stolen using a device that bypasses security systems – without thieves needing to steal keys or smash a window.

Instead, they use transmitting devices known as ‘relay boxes’ to extend the signal from the car’s keyless fob, which is usually inside the owner’s home – and use this to unlock and start the car.

In November, footage emerged of thieves in Solihull, West Midlands, using a relay box to steal a Mercedes van and driving off without keys. The devices are available online for around £260.

Criminals also use ‘signal blocking’ gadgets to prevent drivers with keyless fobs locking vehicles in car parks.

Vehicle thefts in England and Wales have soared by almost a third in only three years, after years of decline.

The latest figures were released by 40 police forces following Freedom of Infor- mation requests by the RAC. They reveal 85,688 vehicles were stolen in 2016, up 30 per cent from 65,783 in 2013.

In Scotland, the latest figures show that 5,216 vehicles were stolen during 2016-17 – 188 more than in the previous year.

The number of vehicle thefts had been steadily falling from a high of 12,105 in 2007-08.

Suggested precautions against theft include using a steering wheel lock, keeping keys away from doors in a metal tin and asking dealers for security software updates.

A Ford spokesman said: ‘Fords are sold with competitive levels of standard security equipment.’