Vehicle Theft Has Shot Up 57%, And You Can Thank Modern Car Tech
It seems we’re paying a price for the convenience of keyless entry systems, as vehicle theft shot up an incredible 57 per cent in the UK last year. According to newly released numbers from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), 89,000 cars were stolen in the country last year, up from 57,000.
The key part is how the thieves are getting access: around half of these cases involved entry through an unlocked door, up from just 13 per cent in 2006. That’s not entirely surprising given how criminals are able to exploit keyless entry - one spectacularly easy method involves merely boosting the key’s signal from inside the target’s house, placing the car within range of the device.
Speaking about the ONS figures, RAC Insurance spokesperson Simon Williams had this to say:
“After decades of falling vehicle crime, these latest statistics show that the trend has sadly reversed. While we know that the picture is an uneven one across the country, the fact that 32,000 more people were victims of car theft last year compared to 2016 is nothing short of shocking.
“The increase can probably be put down at least in part to the rise of more digitally-savvy criminals who try to exploit vulnerabilities in modern car security systems – although we know manufacturers will do all they can to keep their vehicles secure.”
As shocking as the figures seem on their, however, it’s not all bad news. “The volume rises in both the CSEW [Crime Survey for England & Wales] and police recorded crime are relatively small in the context of the longer-term reduction in these offences,” the ONS stated, adding, “CSEW vehicle-related theft has fallen by 78 per cent since the year ending December 1995.”
Also as potential victims, we’re not entirely powerless. Simon Williams recommends a variety of countermeasures, from parking in well-lit areas to physical deterrents (yes, we’re talking about Disclocks and the like). There are also signal blocker pouches available for your keys, which are increasingly looking like a must-have item for modern car owners.
Sources: ONS via Auto Express, Yahoo News
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Inb4 3000 comments tagging Disklok and another 5000 comments saying “😂 cheeky disklok xddddd”
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I still don’t get why turing a key is a pain in the a’s for someone…
good job you fools!
our cars are getting more stolen cause you fools cant bother to twist a damn key
There are also signal blocker pouches available for your keys, which are increasingly looking like a must-have item for modern car owners.
My old mustang was key-less, and so will my new 2018 once that arrives. The 6g Mustang forums have all bought Faraday pouches. Leaving your fob(s) in the Microwave also helps if you have a really beefy one. Just remember your keys are in there when you make porridge the next morning!
“Sources: ONS via Auto Express, Yahoo News”
people still use yahoo?
This is what happens when people mindlessly use “smart tech”. Technology is only as smart as the person using it. I suggest if you have these smart systems, you keep your keys in a metal tin as this blocks the signals that thieves boost.
Manufactures: With key less entry you don’t even need to take the key out of your pocket to operate your vehicle.
Manufactures Now: With key less entry, all you need to do to operate your vehicle is to take the key out of your pocket and remove it from your signal blocking case.
WHY CAN’T I JUST HAVE A NORMAL KEY THEN!!!
Car safety starter pack
I was gonna say this is another reason to hate new cars, but older vehicles definitely weren’t any better.
…. I’ve seen cars broken into and hotwired in under a minute with slimjims, pliers, and screwdrivers.
Seems to me that access was never an issue, what does seem to be an issue is punishing people who defend their own property and criminals capitalizing on that concept. No fear of bodily harm either from owners or law enforcement (not advocating violence here) seems to incentivise this activity. After all, they are opportunistic more often than not and in certain countries they are given an opportunity of essentially a free pass to do what they want without much concern of consequences in terms of harm to themselves.