Increase in keyless vehicle burglaries

We’re investigating a spate of keyless vehicle burglaries in East Staffordshire and we are advising people to take all of the steps possible to limit the chances of falling victim to thieves.

Suspects have been using devices that pick up electronic signals from keys that are left in people’s homes. They can clone the signal, unlock the vehicle, and drive it away in a matter of seconds.

Officers across Staffordshire are working proactively to tackle the organised crime groups responsible for vehicle theft. Two people were charged after a car was stolen earlier this week in Stoke-on-Trent, along with four arrests that were made after a moped was stolen in Stafford in the last few days.

A number of people with electronic keys have started using faraday pouches, which are designed to block the signal from being cloned by the devices that criminals are using to steal vehicles across the UK. Others are also storing their house keys in key safes, instead of leaving them underneath flower pots or doormats where burglars might find them.

If you’re using a key safe, we strongly advise using higher quality products that have been rigorously tested to ISO standards. We only recommend products that have secured by design accreditation. We’ve unfortunately seen a number of incidents recently where criminals are attacking key safes and getting the keys from inside. It is easier for criminals to get into lower quality key safes, so we strongly advise using accredited, quality tested products.

Officers are working robustly to target those seeking to steal from the communities we proudly serve on a daily basis.

For more information on how you can protect your vehicles from thieves, visit our website here