Today’s car criminals are far more likely to be computer savvy than have the ability to hot-wire a car warns Tracker.
Reports indicate an increasing new trend in vehicle theft termed ‘relay attack’, that allows criminals to harness more sophisticated theft techniques to overcome existing vehicle security technology, such as immobilisers and keyless entry systems.
This new style attack uses a relay device and involves two criminals working together. One stands near the car being targeted and the other stands near the front door of the owner’s home to get in range of the key fob – often left on hallway tables or kitchen worktops.
The device then picks up the key fob signal from inside the house and relays it to the car.
Using this method, thieves are then able to drive away in a stolen vehicle in a matter of just a few seconds.
Putting your car keys in a stout metal box can interfere with the signal and jam the thieves attempts to clone the wireless code.