Drivers warned of 15-minute window where vehicle thefts can spike amid keyless car crime fears
Drivers are advised to keep keyless car fobs in a Faraday pouch
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Experts are warning drivers to watch out for a crucial 15-minute daily window where the chances of their cars being stolen could be far higher.
The window refers to the time slot in which thieves could hack keyless cars and steal the vehicle, regardless of the time of day.
Keyless cars have fobs which transmit a signal to the car. If the vehicle has not been used for at least 15 minutes, the fobs stop transmitting a signal and enter “sleep mode".
During this 15-minute period, thieves can take advantage of the weaker position as the fob remains active, allowing them to steal the vehicle without the driver noticing.
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Met Police figures show that 33,000 cars were stolen in London last year
Steve Launchbury, principal security engineer for Thatcham Research, told WhatCar?: “Sleeping key fobs do offer a deterrent to relay theft to a degree, but because many of them don’t deactivate for up to 15 minutes.”
But he warned that they leave an opportunity open for thieves to “grab key codes if someone is walking around with the key in a pocket or bag”.
He added: "Many car makers won’t shorten the time the keys stay active because it could inconvenience owners, so more sophisticated software is needed to make the systems smarter."
Rates of keyless car thefts have been rising in recent years, with security company Tracker recording 352 vehicles being recovered so far this year.
The stolen vehicles had a combined value of £8.4million, with £2.7million worth of cars being recovered in April alone.
Data from the Metropolitan Police found that 33,000 cars were stolen last year, with six in 10 of these being vehicles with keyless entry.
Further research from LV Insurance found that car theft rates were continuing to rise, and many drivers were falling victim to keyless car thefts.
Experts have urged motorists to avoid keyless car thefts by investing in a signal-blocking bag or wallet or even a Faraday pouch.
They should also not leave keys near doors or windows and put them as far away as possible from the car.
The keyless car bags are designed to intercept the signal from a relay box which can limit the number of keyless thefts. Most pouches are available in pairs online for less than £10.
Experts at Compare the Market said: "For some people, the whole point of keyless car systems is to avoid faffing about when getting in or out of the car, so using a steering wheel lock defeats the object.
"But having a visible deterrent, like a steering wheel lock or wheel clamp, works in two ways. It can make thieves decide against stealing your car and look for an easier vehicle to target."
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Experts are calling on drivers to keep their car keys in safe spaces to minimise the risk of having their vehicles stolen
GETTYThe site explained that the wheel clamp also creates an additional barrier which takes longer to steal the car, with more potential for thieves to be spotted.