Drivers urged to be vigilant following keyless car theft

Officers are urging vehicle owners to be vigilant after a keyless car theft took place in Lichfield recently.

A white Range Rover was stolen from a property off Oak Way at around 1am on Monday (11 July).

The stolen vehicle was seen driven in the direction of Lichfield Trent Valley train station.

Officers understand that offenders may be using keyless relay devices or so-called skeleton keys to access vehicles.

Police are currently conducting house-to-house inquires and urge anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage of the area at the time of the offence to get in touch.

Officers are also reminding vehicle owners on how best to protect themselves from keyless car thefts.

If you have a keyless car/vehicle:
• Consider purchasing a key security pouch (also known as a Faraday pouch) to keep your car entry devices in while inside the house. These block the ability of thieves to access the key signal
• Always check your car doors have locked after pressing your key fob
• Park in a garage if possible, or another secure area, where it is difficult to get the car out if accessed
• Consider using a steering wheel lock.

Inspector Karen Green, of the Lichfield Local Policing Team, said: “I would urge anyone who has a keyless vehicle to invest in a Faraday pouch to protect themselves and their property.

“All vehicle owners should be vigilant to any suspicious activity in and around their communities and report any concerns to police.”

To report any information in relation to the above theft, contact Staffordshire Police on Facebook, Twitter, or call 101, quoting incident number 149 of 11 July.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For more guidance on how to prevent keyless thefts, visit: Advice issued on preventing keyless entry vehicle thefts | Staffordshire Police.