Police have issued an urgent warning to drivers amid an epidemic of keyless car thefts becoming more common around the country.
Data from Cambridgeshire Police has found that 25 high-end cars have been stolen in the last four months alone.
These are primarily Land Rovers and Range Rovers and have all been stolen by criminals using keyless entry technology.
The police force reported that all thefts of vehicles across Cambridgeshire had taken place overnight when criminals had the greatest access to the unattended vehicles.
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Keyless car theft has become more common in recent years
GETTYIn total, 12 cars were stolen across Peterborough, four in Huntingdonshire and two in Fenland, while three were stolen from Boughton in Northamptonshire.
Two others were taken from the Lincolnshire towns of Stamford and one in Skegness, as well as one vehicle being taken from Haverhill in Suffolk.
Detective Sergeant Justin Parr, from the Acquisitive Crime Team (ACT), said it was vital for people to be aware of the new warning and to protect themselves in the best ways possible.
He said: “So far, we have managed to recover 13 of the stolen cars and are carrying out various enquiries to identify and locate those responsible.
“The thefts have all taken place overnight, usually in the early hours of the morning when most people are asleep.
"I would like to ask members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to us, including any video doorbell footage.”
According to research from LV Insurance, car theft rates continue to rise, with many falling victim to criminals taking advantage of keyless car thefts.
Many car brands have been working to implement technology that would make it harder for criminals to make use of keyless capabilities to steal vehicles.
Most of the time, thieves will use relay devices to bounce the signal from the keys inside the house to the vehicle, allowing them to gain access to the vehicle without needing a set of keys and without alerting anyone that the car is being taken.
LV claimed that between September 2021 and September 2023, Lexus had seen a staggering 513 per cent in the number of claims for stolen vehicles.
Other major car brands like Toyota (103 per cent), Hyundai (81 per cent) and Kia (76 per cent) have also seen a dramatic increase in theft claims.
The insurer stated that the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage have become some of the most targeted vehicles, making up 45 per cent of their respective manufacturer’s claims.
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Drivers can buy a Faraday pouch to minimise the risk of having their car stolen PAMartin Milliner, Claims Director at LV= General Insurance, said: "We’re certainly seeing an increase in car thefts and high-value spare parts such as catalytic converters, laser headlights and even steering wheels that organised gangs of thieves find very lucrative.
"This is being fuelled by the high-tech nature and cost of these components and a general shortage of car parts because of global supply chain disruption."
