Officers issue warning to keyless car owners following recent theft reports in Basingstoke

Officers are urging keyless car owners to remain vigilant following an increase in reports of vehicles being stolen in the Basingstoke area.

We have received 12 reports of keyless cars being stolen in the district in the last 30 days.

Since Tuesday 27 February, we have received five reports of keyless car theft, which is also known as relay theft:

• Between 7.30pm on 27 February and 3pm on 28 February, a Land Rover Discovery was stolen from an address on Fox’s Lane in Kingsclere. The vehicle was later recovered in Andover (44240087438)

• Between 4.30am and 5am on 28 February, a grey Range Rover Sport was stolen from a driveway on Deane Cottages Lane (44240086456)

• At around 5.30am on 1 March, a BMW M6 was stolen from a driveway in Heritage Park, Basingstoke. The vehicle was later recovered in Basingstoke (44240089682)

• At around 4am on 1 March, a Ford Mustang GT was stolen from an address on Worldham Gardens, Basingstoke (44240089802)

• At around 9.30am on 2 March, a Mercedes was stolen from a driveway on Majestic Road, Basingstoke (44240090112)

In all of these cases, entry was not forced and it is believed access was likely gained through relay methods.

Relay thefts are where thieves are able to connect to the key’s signal from outside the property to trick the car into unlocking before starting the ignition.

This is done with a device that does not require entry into the owner’s home. It doesn’t take long for this to happen, up to two minutes in total, and often the owner has no idea it is happening until it is too late.

To make life harder for potential thieves, we would like to encourage owners of keyless vehicles to take extra precautions to prevent becoming a victim of this crime, particularly owners of high value keyless cars, which are often the ones targeted.

Basingstoke Police Sergeant Pete Scamell said: “We have seen an increase in reports of keyless car thefts in our district over the past few weeks.

“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 steal the key and take your car.

“We are doing everything we can to catch those responsible but there are steps keyless car owners can take in order to prevent this type of crime from occurring.

“Signal blocking pouches, also known as Faraday Bags, are widely available and can block the signal. We would recommend purchasing one of these to help ensure that your vehicle stays secure.

“Please read our crime prevention advice below and continue to report any suspicious activity.”

To protect your vehicle from being stolen, you can:

• Use a signal blocking pouch, known as a Faraday Bag, to store your keys
• Keep keys out of sight and away from doors and windows
• Turn off your Keyless Fob’s Wireless Signal
• Use a tested and approved Steering Wheel /Pedal / Gear Lock as a deterrent
• Tracking devices can help track down your vehicle and the perpetrator should it be taken
• Check with your manufacturer to make sure your car is as secure as it can be
• Re-programme your keys if you buy a second hand car
• Park securely or use your garage if you have one
• Use CCTV and lighting
• For more information, please visit our website: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/keeping-vehicles-safe/preventing-car-vehicle-theft/
• You can also visit the Secured by Design website for more information: https://www.securedbydesign.com/guidance/crime-prevention-advice/vehicle-crime/relay-theft