HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR CAR?

There are many ways to make your car less vulnerable to theft. If your car is keyless, you could buy a Faraday bag or box to keep the key in. This will stop your key emitting the signal that’s grabbed for relay theft.

Also check the technology that is fitted to your car. Security expert Andy Davis suggests: “If you have a keyless car and you’re concerned, you can turn off the remote keyless entry function in the car.

“New techniques by the car makers include putting motion detectors in keys so the key will switch off its radio function when it’s been motionless. Some cars now use ultra-wide band for their security systems which is a very high frequency and can accurately measure the distance between the car and key to prevent relay theft.”

Mark Silvester claimed: “The car industry can make changes, but we can all do our bit. Speak to your main dealer and make sure your car’s software and firmware are up to date.”

Tracking devices are a deterrent but Tracker’s Clive Wain believes owners can also make stealing their cars harder. He said: “The more physical barriers to thieves, the better. There’s a strong argument for steering locks, concreted-in posts in the ground in front of the car and CCTV.”

But Preventing Vehicle Crime calls the benefits of CCTV into question. “Even if an offender’s image was clearly captured on CCTV it could be weeks, months or never until that offender was identified, arrested and sentenced,” it stated.

“The presence of barking dogs was a good deterrent but ‘beware of the dog’ type signs were worth considering as an alternative. More than one (convicted car thief) participant specified a dislike for gravel driveways,” the report concluded.

Car makers are still doing their bit. Steve Launchbury, principal security engineer at Thatcham vehicle security research centre said: “We are working very closely with vehicle makers to address these issues. Many have now taken steps to prevent relay attacks.

Many recent models with keyless entry systems are now less susceptible to that theft technique.”

Sadly, “less” rather than “not”. When one avenue closes, thieves simply reverse engineer another route past security. “It takes a long time for car makers to respond to threats; they don’t seem geared up to adapt quickly,” Clive Wain said. “It’s cat and mouse