Thieves attack Ford and Fiat vehicles using cloned keyless fobs to break into cars and vans.
According to the Stolen Vehicles East Yorkshire Facebook page, the number of stolen Ford Fiesta and Focus cars has “increased shockingly”.
The popular car models have fallen victim to a spate of theft and are among the most frequently stolen in the UK, reports Wales Online.
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The Stolen Vehicles East Yorkshire Facebook page states, “Apparently these thieves are cloning car keys by plugging a device into your ODB ports.”
Other reports suggest that thieves are using sophisticated new tactics to gain access to vehicles.
Using keyless relay devices like Skeleton or “Tibbie” keys, they are supposed to clone wireless key signals and allow them to open the cars on the driveway.
In Staffordshire, Fiat 500 models and Ford transit vans have been targeted in recent months with an increase in thefts.
DC Daniel Trupp, part of the Priorities Team at CID at the Staffordshire Police Department, said: “We would like to reiterate that owners of cars with keyless entry must ensure that their vehicles are locked at all times when they are not in use Consider using Faraday bags to keep their keys to prevent cloning and possibly use steering locks on their vehicles.
“And of course, please report any suspicious activity you see in your community and at work.”
Faraday bags, also known as RFID, are copper-lined bags that protect against radio frequency interference and can help prevent some of the most common types of keyless car theft.
The police also gave the following advice to keyless car owners:
- Check to see if your car doors are locked after pressing your key fob
- Park in a safe place, e.g. B. in a garage, or anywhere where it is difficult for thieves to get your car out
- Use a steering lock or other additional protection
Humberside Police Department also gave advice to the public on how to prevent car theft:
- Remember to lock your car doors and windows every time you leave your car
- Never leave the keys in the ignition – for example, when paying for gas or when de-icing your vehicle on a cold day
- Never leave your vehicle papers in the vehicle – make sure they are safe at home
- Park in well-lit areas
- Don’t leave anything in your car – things like coats or CDs can be tempting to thieves too – make sure your things are safely stowed in your trunk. GPS sat navs and other electronics can be especially tempting
- Invest in or upgrade your alarm clock
The police also gave some parking tips:
- If possible, park in a locked and alarm-secured garage. If this is not possible, park as close to your home as possible, whether in the driveway or outside the street
- Park in well-lit areas, ideally where other vehicles are present
- Never leave your car keys in an obvious place when you get home, such as a desk. B. hang them near the door or on the hall table
- Park your car outdoors, avoiding spaces behind hedges or walls. Areas with video surveillance such as parking lots are much safer than back roads
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