The number of vehicles stolen in Britain has almost doubled in the last five years, new Home Office figures show.
Official stats show that 111,999 cars were pinched in 2017-18, up from 75,308 in the 2013-14 financial year.
That means, on average, a vehicle is stolen in Britain every five minutes, which amounts to 300 motors being nabbed every day.
Experts say the rise in vehicle crime is the result of organised gangs using advanced keyless technology to remotely steal cars and policing budget cuts that has seen officer numbers dwindle in recent years.
In the last half a decade, car thefts are up a staggering 48.7 per cent, according to the Home Office’s new data published this week.
While the figures don’t specify how vehicles have been stolen, there’s no question that the spike directly correlates with the advent of remote keyless technology.
Criminal gangs are use gadgets to hack into vehicles, allowing them to break into the car and drive it away without ever having to see a set of keys.
The majority of cars targeted are high-priced models from premium brands, such as Audi, BMW, Land Rover and Mercedes, which have strong resale values on foreign markets.
These vehicles can also be broken down into component parts and sold at high prices to unaware consumer.
But the RAC has warned that a plunge in policing numbers is also to blame.
In the last five years alone, forces have pulled 5,975 officers from their departments.
Forces up and down the country have reduced their officers by 15 per cent since 2006 – accounting for a loss of 21,958 personnel – meaning the police presence is the lowest it has been since the 1980s.
This could also explain why statistics for thefts from vehicles are also up.
Some 280,032 cases of cars being broken into a belonging taken from them were reported in the previous financial year, which was up from 258,356 just 12 months previous – an 8.4 per cent hike.
RAC Insurance director Mark Godfrey described the increase in vehicle crime as ‘alarming’ and said the latest data suggests the situation continues to get worse.
‘The current financial year has also not started well, with nearly 60,000 vehicle thefts already recorded up to the end of last September,’ he explained.
‘They [the stats] also paint a very depressing picture of a society where it is all too easy for gangs of thieves to break in and steal vehicles, and where there are fewer police officers to catch them and bring them to justice.’
Mr Godfrey also warned that motorists are suffering from this crime wave on two fronts.
Not only are their vehicles less secure and more at risk, the rise in thefts is also reflecting on more expensive insurance premiums.
‘Every vehicle stolen and not returned safely to its owner represents a cost that is borne by every motorist who lawfully pays their insurance,’ he added.
‘If the number of thefts could be reduced, then insurance premiums would undoubtedly be lower.
‘Aside from this it is impossible to underestimate the impact on individuals and business who suffer from this type of crime.’
1. Relay hack keyless entry
Although, usually, your car keys signal cannot reach the car from inside your home, criminals using a ‘relay box’ can boost the signal from your car keys even when they’re away from the vehicle and imitate the exact signal – causing your car to unlock and allowing the thief access.
Stay safe: The best way to protect yourself from this type of crime is to disable your key signal when not using your car or keeping your keys safe in a secure container that blocks the signal.
2. Keyless jamming
Another method used by criminals is preventing the car key locking signal from reaching your car – it means your car remains unlocked when you move away from it and the thieves are then able to access your unsecured vehicle.
Stay safe: To prevent this from happening, make sure to check your car doors manually and use a steering wheel lock that will stop thieves from being able to take your car, even if it is unlocked.
3. Tyre pressure monitor systems
An unusual way of hacking a car is for criminals to interfere with a tyre’s sensor
A less obvious – and not well known – method is hackers who are able to interact with sensors inside a vehicle’s tyres.
This means they are able to track the vehicle and display false tyre pressure readings – this could then lure you to check the pressure at a garage and for thieves to pounce.
Stay safe: When you check your tyre pressure, lock all doors when you do and seek advice from a car garage if in doubt.
4. App flaw local remote control
Many cars possess telematics, often without the driver’s knowledge, as many vehicle tracking apps integrate with their technology.
Although this can be handy for those with internet connected cars, it does mean that if a server is misconfigured or can be deliberately altered, hackers can locate, unlock and potentially start the engine of nearby cars.
Stay safe: Speak to your car manufacturer for support.
5. Controller Area Network disabled safety features
Hackers can access the internal car network through vulnerabilities in a car’s wi-fi or phone connections and send ‘denial of service’ signals which can shut down air bags, anti-lock brakes, and even door locks.
Stay safe: Changing your passwords regularly can help prevent hackers gaining access.
6) On-board diagnostics hack
Cars possess a feature called an ‘on-board diagnostic port’ which allows garages to access the internal data of a vehicle to perform tasks such as checking service light faults and programming new keys for their owners.
However, it is possible to buy kits which can use this port to program new keys for as little as £50, allowing hackers to use them to create new keys to access vehicles.
Stay safe: Use a steering lock to protect yourself and get advice from a reputable garage.
7) Phone phishing
If you use wi-fi in your car, hackers may be able to access it through phishing schemes.
They can send emails with links to malicious websites and apps that, if opened, take your details and even take control of any apps that you have on your phone that allow you to interact with your vehicle.
Stay safe: Be cautious when opening emails from unknown senders and do not open links within these emails if you do not know the source.
Daily
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