South West England plagued by spiking rates of vehicle thefts - ‘Call us immediately!’
Drivers are advised to keep keyless car fobs in a Faraday pouch
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Keyless car thefts have been steadily increasing in South West of England with police officers issuing a warning and urging drivers to “act now”.
Police officers have warned of sharp rises in vehicle thefts across Corsham, Chippenham and Calne, with many of these involving keyless cars.
The most recent incidents have involved Range Rovers being targeted and unfortunately stolen, prompting the advice to take extra caution and security steps.
In one incident a silver Range Rover was stolen from a driveway in Moor Green, Neston with enquiries currently ongoing.
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Drivers have been urged to install pedal boxes to deter thieves
PADetective Constable Kev Golledge, from the local Neighbourhood Team, said: “We want to strongly advise the public to invest sooner rather than later in a Faraday pouch/boxes to secure keys overnight and help prevent thefts. They aren’t expensive and can save a lot of hassle and financial loss.
“Enquiries are currently ongoing in relation to the incidents reported and we’d urge anyone with information, or anyone who suspects suspicious activity in their area to call us immediately.”
Offering advice to drivers to avoid thefts, the police service stated that when not in use, motorists should ensure all keyless fobs are protected “in the same way that the main key is protected”.
Drivers should also consider removing the battery from spare keys, so fewer examples of the same key frequency are being emitted.
Another suggestion includes speaking to the vehicle’s manufacturer about preventative advice including changing the vehicle’s security and convenience settings.
Physical equipment locks and aftermarket security devices such as steering wheel locks, gear lever locks or a pedal box can also help deter crime.
A pedal box is a bright yellow metal box which wraps around the foot pedals and has a lock on to prevent the pedals from being accessed.
Physical barriers can also help prevent keyless cars from getting stolen. Bollards and driveway gates could be effective in helping deter potential thieves, the police station advised.
“If you have them fitted, do you use them and do you lock them? Consider your locking options with gates and lock them each nighttime as these make it just that more difficult for thieves to steal your vehicle,” the officers added.
Another point to note is whether drivers have a significant insurance policy to cover losses in the event that a car is stolen.
Gap Insurance covers the difference between what a driver paid for the car and its current market value and could be a necessary safety measure.
The police force added: “Does your vehicle have a tracking device fitted? If stolen, the chances of the vehicle being recovered improve greatly when one is fitted.
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Thefts primarily taking place across south-west England
PA“When a vehicle is stolen, whatever is left inside it is also stolen too. Please do not leave valuables on show in your car overnight unnecessarily.”