British drivers face huge rise in car thefts prompting urgent warning - 'Some areas worse hit than others'
Drivers are advised to keep keyless car fobs in a Faraday pouch
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Owners of keyless cars are more likely to be the victim of vehicle theft as new data suggests that the number of thefts has reached record heights.
According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS), more than 350 vehicles were stolen every day last year.
Hertfordshire Constabulary found that thefts have increased by over seven per cent since April 1, compared to the same period last year.
In Broxbourne, thefts were up 52 per cent, while offences in North Herts increased by over 43 per cent and Hertsmere thefts by 21 per cent.
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Drivers are being urged to ensure their cars are protected from potential thieves
PixabayNotably keyless cars have been hit the worst by thieves in the region with Nicola Chamberlain, Hertfordshire Constabulary’s crime prevention lead, explaining that they are particularlyvulnerable during the evenings and overnight, adding: "Some areas have been worse hit than others."
She said: “We’re advising drivers to make sure vehicles are locked up before leaving them unattended and to consider using a good quality steering wheel lock, which is a great deterrent.
“If you have a keyless entry vehicle, use a signal-blocking fob pouch (Faraday bag) and keep fobs and store any spare keys in a metal box when not in use, so that criminals can’t use signal relay devices to unlock and start your vehicle remotely.”
The ONS recorded 193,023 crimes for vehicles being broken into last year while during the same period in 2022, 218,431 people reported a car break-in.
Offering advice to drivers, the police force called on drivers to lock their car whenever it's left unattended and keep it in a garage when parked at night if possible.
When at home, drivers should keep their keyless car fob “well away” from the car and put keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday bag.
Research from Tracker Network UK found that the company recovered 110 stolen vehicles in April this year, compared to just 47 in April 2023.
Chamberlain added: “Always consider parking in a car park that has been accredited with the police-approved ‘Park Mark’ scheme.
“Noisy gravel on your drive can help deter a would-be thief, as they don’t want to alert you to their approach.
"Never leave valuable items or tools on display in your vehicle as this may encourage a thief to break in.”
Tracker data also estimated that between January and April this year, the police recovered 352 vehicles with a combined value of £8.4million.
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Drivers are being warned to remain vigilant with the rate of car thefts rising GETTYIn total, ONS reports detailed how 129,159 vehicles were stolen between April 2023 and March 2024.
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