"Gadgets used by criminals to steal keyless cars without breaking in are being sold online for more than 20,000, the BBC has found. A new law is imminent on owning devices used in car thefts, some of which allow thieves to bounce the signal from a key inside a property to open a car. But experts say the ban is unlikely to stop gangs who are loaning them out for large sums and stealing vehicles to order."
"Abbie Brookes-Morris said criminals used the device to steal her keyless vehicle, a theft she calls "an invasion". She said the car, which she shares with her partner Tom, was stolen from outside their home in Wolverhampton while they slept. "Although they didn't physically come into the house, you don't feel safe," she said. Her doorbell camera captured footage of a gang using a gadget outside her property."
Devices that can relay or block key fob signals are being sold online for thousands of euros, with some listings claiming access to high-end cars including Lamborghinis and Maseratis. Criminals can borrow or rent the equipment and use it to steal keyless vehicles from outside homes within minutes, leaving victims feeling violated and unsafe. Police data shows over 100,000 vehicles stolen in the past year, and insurers estimate 60–70% involved keyless models. Some gadgets are disguised as everyday items, while others are advanced military-grade tools. A legal ban on owning such devices is imminent, but experts doubt it will stop organized gangs.
Read at www.bbc.com
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