New figures have revealed that keyless car thefts have risen to an all-time high, prompting major concerns within the fleet industry…
Keyless Thefts at all-time High
Tracker, a vehicle recovery company, has revealed that 94% of the vehicles it recovered in 2021 were stolen without the use of car keys; it means keyless thefts are now at an all-time high in the UK. The rising figure is largely due to the popularity keyless entry systems. However, the coronavirus pandemic has also had an impact. Premium cars still remain the priority for car thieves, with the top three stolen models all being Range Rovers; the Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Defender. Indeed, the brand accounted for 44% of all stolen and recovered vehicles.
Other commonly targeted models included the BMW X5, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Audi Q7. Once stolen, many of these models are shipped off to European, Middle Eastern or African countries.
Traditional Precautions
Clive Wain, speaking for Tracker, commented on the rise of keyless thefts. He said, “we are continuously intercepting shipping containers packed with stolen vehicles at ports around the country. And 2021 was no different”.
He continued, “whatever the value of a car, an important barrier to stop thieves is using traditional physical security devices like steering wheel locks and wheel clamps. In addition, placing the key fob into a signal blocking pouch which is lined with layers of metallic material, will stop a key’s signal from being intercepted by would-be thieves. However, thieves are increasingly determined and employ sophisticated methods too. In the event of a vehicle being stolen, an SVR solution will significantly increase the chances of it being quickly recovered; and returned before it’s sold on, stripped for parts or shipped abroad”.
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