Return of the steering lock: More drivers resort to ‘old skool’ safety merchandise to guard their automobiles
- 2/5 of owners are using additional security measures to keep luxury cars safe
Car owners are relying on ‘old school’ security measures to safeguard their luxury vehicles from organised criminal gangs stealing motors using the latest tactics.
New research has found that car crime worry is so great that two fifths of owners are using additional security measures that were popular in the eighties and nineties, including steering locks and bollards.
The return of these ‘old had’ security products has been driven by increased concerns regarding keyless vehicle thefts, with over three quarters of luxury cars featuring keyless entry and start systems.
1.2 million (36 per cent) luxury car owners are using these ‘old school’ physical devices to keep their expensive cars secure
Despite the rise of advanced security technologies, 1.2 million (36 per cent) luxury car owners are using these ‘old school’ physical devices to keep their expensive cars secure.
One in ten of the 2,000 people surveyed by Direct Line Motor Insurance said they use steering wheel locks, which goes up to 26 per cent when parking away from home.
Some 13 per cent have installed bollards, 10 per cent have installed lockable gates and 3 per cent use a lockable chain to secure the drive.
While many of these luxury cars can cost in excess of six-figure and are packed with the latest digital security systems, old school theft deterrents are increasingly seen as a better deterrent and are available for as little as £17.
A quarter (23 per cent) of luxury car owners worry multiple times a week about their car being stolen, while two fifths (39 per cent) of owners that park their luxury cars on their drive at home feel they need additional security measures to further protect their car from being stolen.
How criminals steal cars by breaching keyless tech
Criminals usually go in pairs to steal keyless cars. One holds a transmitter and stands next to the vehicle while the other stands close to the house holding an amplifier
To target the latest motors, thieves are arming themselves with cheap technology that allows them to take cars without having to step foot into someone’s property to take the keys.
Keyless entry and keyless ignition means a driver only needs to have the car’s key on their body – in their pocket for instance – not only to unlock the doors but to start the engine.
While this is a convenience feature, it is also one that leaves owners susceptible to car crime, namely ‘relay attacks’.
This usually consists of two thieves working together. One holds a transmitter and stands next to the car while the other stands close to the house holding an amplifier.
The amplifier can boost the signal from the key inside the property and send it to the transmitter.
The transmitter essentially becomes a ghost key and tricks the car into thinking the real key is nearby. This then opens the car and allows it to be driven away without causing any damage or raising an alarm.
Insurers have estimated that around half of all car thefts are currently conducted in this way because criminals can do it quickly and in near silence, with gangs usually targeting vehicles in the middle of the night without raising suspicion.
Concerns about the vulnerability of modern car tech is on the rise, with keyless entry and ignition the most worried about area.
Over three quarters (77 per cent) of cars worth £40,000 or more have keyless entry and ignition, and the recent spate of relay theft – when criminals use a car’s technology against itself by tricking the keyless entry system into thinking the key fob is within range – is causing people to turn to old hat ways to beat the crooks.
Sensibly a quarter (24 per cent) of owners with cars with keyless entry and ignition use a Faraday device when parked at home, and a further 21 per cent keep their keys stored a long way from their car when it’s parked on the drive.
Even if vehicles are kept in a garage, people worry that won’t be enough against keyless theft; 49 per cent of owners who park in garages taking the additional precaution of keeping their keys in a Faraday storage device.
For overall security, installing CCTV is the most common choice with two thirds (66 per cent) of those with luxury cars have installed cameras to cover their car when it is parked at their home.
Our top five security tips to protect your car from thieves using hi-tech tactics
1. Keep your key fob well away from your vehicle – and store it in a Faraday wallet
To best protect against keyless car theft, always place the keyfob as far away from the vehicle as you can and store it in a location that is not close to doors or windows in your property.
Halfords sells faraday pouches for £5
Even keeping them upstairs or in a room that’s the furthest distance from your driveway will not guarantee that a criminal using relay tactics won’t be able to infiltrate the signal.
For the best level of protection, owners of cars with keyless tech should purchase a Faraday pouch or wallet.
You can buy these online for as little as £5. They isolate the key fob’s signal so it can’t be replicated by thieves.
Metal tins and boxes will also provide similar protective levels, as will keeping your key fob in a fridge freezer, microwave or oven – just remember they are in there before turning on the latter two.
Also, don’t forget about your spare keys and apply the same level of care you would to your main keys or fob.
Keeping your keyless fob in a tin will block the signal and prevent thieves from duplicating it to break into your vehicle
2. Invest in extra anti-theft protection
A simple steering wheel lock or wheel clamp might look ugly but are a great tool to deter even the hardiest criminals with the most tech.
They will act as a visual deterrent for thieves who will likely avoid them.
For a criminal to remove a steering wheel lock typically requires the use of noisy drills or saws to cut through, and therefore they are the ideal first line of defence for owners with models that have keyless car tech.
Drivers should also consider wheel clamps as well as having alarm systems and trackers (read more about these below) installed.
Owners of vans with keyless technology should also consider fitting deadbolts for additional protection, especially if they store expensive tools and items in their commercial vehicles overnight.
3. Be mindful when locking the doors
It may sound simple but always make sure your vehicle is locked every time you leave it – especially in busy car parks where thieves often use signal blockers.
Many drivers also don’t realise that on some vehicle models if you press your key fob only once your car will only be single locked.
This means that if you smashed the window you could manually open the car by reaching in and pulling the handle from the inside.
To double lock, key fobs can require a second press of the locking button to engage the full security features. It is important to read your car’s manual when you first get it and familiarise how to securely lock your car when you’re not in it.
4. Think carefully about where you park overnight
Most often, keyless car thefts take place on owners’ driveways. While motorists might think having their vehicle in such close proximity to their property guarantees its security, this is certainly not the case when it comes to relay thefts – quite the contrary, in fact, as it means the car is closer to where they keys are inside your home.
That’s why owners with off-street parking should consider additional measures.
Driveway parking posts are a cheap but efficient way of deterring would-be thieves.
Drivers can also go one step further and install lockable gates in their driveway, while simple CCTV systems can provide further peace of mind.
Luxury cars, which are at greater risk of theft, should be parked in a locked garage where possible.
For those without off-street parking who leave their cars on the road outside their home, you are also not safe from these criminals.
Consider parking further away from your property than usual – and try to find a space under a streetlight so that thieves are exposed when trying to steal your car at night.
If you live on a residential street where there are also business, park outside one with a CCTV camera installed.
5. Install a tracking device in your car
Installing a tracker system in your vehicle, such as a Thatcham approved device, offers an extra layer of security.
A tracking device won’t stop your vehicle being stolen, but it significantly increases the chances of the police recovering and returning it to you.
They cost from between £250 and £800 and the most secure use military-grade tech to locate the whereabouts of cars.
