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