Drivers demand help from major car brands to address rampant crime wave of keyless vehicle thefts

Only six per cent of those asked said that car makers did not need to take action to make their cars less vulnerable to theft.

Around 13 per cent of people said they have avoided buying particular models of vehicles because they fear they may be attractive to thieves in the past.

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As a general trend, criminals tend to target expensive, high-end vehicles like Land Rovers and Jaguars, which has prompted some manufacturers to act by investing in security enhancements for the most at-risk vehicles.

Seven in 10 motorists said they believed keyless entry would make cars more attractive to criminals, while 46 per cent said they wouldn't purchase certain vehicles because of the feature.

Paul Baxter, CEO of The Green Insurer said: “It’s clear from our research that the overwhelming majority of consumers believe car manufacturers have a pivotal role to play in reducing car crime.

"More worryingly, our findings indicate that if a particular model is deemed to be a high-risk target for thieves, almost one in two purchasers will be put off from buying."

The expert added that drivers could keep one step ahead of criminals by enhancing the security features of their vehicles and their homes.

He suggested that this could include "advanced encryption methods" or investing in better vehicle tracking and recovery systems.

Several motoring organisations and prominent figures within the industry have called on vehicle manufacturers to improve their technology to ensure vehicles are safe from being stolen as easily as they currently are.

Baxter said this would have multiple benefits by giving drivers the peace of mind to know that they can rely on their vehicle being protected, as well as having further confidence in the brands.

Criminals use so-called "relay devices" to bounce the signal from the car fob to the car, meaning most drivers will not even be aware that their vehicle is in the process of being stolen.

Because of this, Britons are advised to keep their car keys away from any doors or windows to make it harder for burglars to attract the signal.

Most experts also support the use of Faraday pouches which also block the signal from being intercepted by the relay device and prevent motorists from losing their vehicles.

While the introduction and acceptance of keyless car technology has been supported for years for making it easier for drivers to get into their vehicles, the features have contributed to a rise in thefts.

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Keyless car thefts are likely to continue unless manufacturers take steps to address concerns and make vehicles more resistant to theft.