Appeal and advice following keyless car thefts in Hart

Officers are appealing for information and offering crime prevention advice following a spate of six keyless car thefts in Hart.

Details of the incidents are as follows:

At some time between 11.30pm on Monday 18 October and 7am on Tuesday 19 October, a black BMW 320d SE was stolen from outside a property on West Green Road in Hartley Wintney.

Overnight between Tuesday 12 October and Wednesday 13 October, we received reports of three car thefts near Great Sheldon’s Coppice in Hook.

A white BMW 520d M Sport, a red Mercedes GLC 250 and a black Mercedes GLE 250 AMG were all reported stolen.

The two other incidents took place in Fleet during the early hours of Wednesday 6 October.

A black Mercedes AMG E63 was stolen from a driveway on Heathland Close and a grey Mercedes GLC 250 was also reported stolen from outside a property on Kenwith Avenue.

During each incident, the offenders targeted high-performance vehicles and appear to have started these remotely via a relay device, which connects with the vehicle’s fob.

At this time, we appealing for witnesses to these offences. We are keen to speak with anyone who may have heard or seen anything out of the ordinary overnight during the times mentioned above.

Hart District Neighbourhood Sergeant Martyn Evans said: “In each of these cases the vehicles have been stolen without the use of keys.

“Offenders are using increasingly sophisticated tools to steal cars with keyless entry by tricking the system into thinking the key is nearby. They do not need to gain access to your home to take the keys.

“Were you in the area the time? Do you have CCTV or dash cam footage that could help? I am urging anyone with any information about these incidents to get in touch with us.

“We also have some simple crime prevention advice that can help people protect their property.

“The offending seems to be taking place along the A30 corridor, so I would advise people who live in this area, including Fleet, Hook and Basingstoke, to have a look at the following advice.”

• Hide Keys: keep keys out of sight from doors and windows
• Signal Blocking: Consider the use of a Faraday pouch to ensure any connection between your keys and vehicle is severed and cannot be interfered with.
• Deterrent Locks: Ensure your vehicle is locked and secure whenever unattended. Use Sold Secure approved products such as steering wheel, pedal or gear locks to deter offenders
• Parking: Park in a garage if you have one. If parking on your driveway, consider fitting outdoor motion detector lighting and CCTV from installers who are members of the National Security Inspectorate or the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board.

Where a Faraday pouch is not an option, store your keys as far away from your vehicle as you can within your property. Consider placing the keys within a microwave or another metal structure when not in use.

If you notice any suspicious activity, you can report this via the non-emergency number, 101. You can also report incidents online via our website, www.hampshire.police.uk.

If you suspect a crime to be in progress or you fear for your safety or the safety of someone else, always call 999.

Anyone with information should call Hampshire Constabulary on 101 quoting 44210419498.