Unlocking the Dark World of Keyless Car Theft: A £20,000 Price Tag on Criminal Gadgetry

Criminals are exploiting technology in alarming ways, turning keyless car theft into a lucrative underground market. Gadgets designed to steal keyless vehicles are being sold online for staggering prices exceeding £20,000, according to a BBC investigation. As a new law looms over the ownership of such devices, experts warn that criminal gangs will continue to thrive by loaning out these gadgets, making thefts to order.

A shocking case highlighted was that of Abbie Brookes-Morris, whose keyless vehicle was stolen from outside her home in Wolverhampton while she slept, not realizing thieves were using advanced technology to access her car. Her doorbell camera captured the striking moment they scoured her property looking for a signal, taking merely two minutes to pull off the operation.

Recent statistics indicate that over 100,000 vehicles were recorded stolen in just the last year in the UK, with 60% to 70% of these thefts involving keyless models. Disguised devices that mimic harmless objects, like Bluetooth speakers, are also making their rounds, raising concerns about the ease with which criminals can target lower-value vehicles.

Richard Billyeald from Thatcham Research emphasizes the lack of legitimate use for these devices, noting a troubling shift from opportunistic theft to organized crime schemes that execute targeted thefts for profit. With technology constantly evolving, police are finding it increasingly difficult to combat this trend since these gadgets are circulated across different crime groups.

The impending Crime and Policing Bill aims to crack down on the possession of such devices by making it illegal, which could result in up to five years in prison for offenders. Meanwhile, safety experts recommend precautions to prevent these thefts, such as using faraday pouches to block signals and changing vehicle settings to enhance security.

This emergence of sophisticated car thefts poses a significant challenge for law enforcement and car owners alike, casting a dark shadow over the once-convenient keyless entry systems.