Hackney police issue warning after spate of keyless car thefts in De Beauvoir

Police have warned keyless car owners to protect their fobs after a spate of vehicle thefts in De Beauvoir.

A keyless car is opened when the fob sends a signal to open the car, and it is not necessary to press any buttons.

The device normally works over a distance of a metre - but by using cheap signal amplifiers thieves can pick up and amplify the signal from inside a house to reached a car outside.

Pc Steve Bullock said: “This enables them to unlock, start and drive the car away. A new key is then reprogrammed to it by the thieves.

“Audis seem to have been targeted although any high-value cars with keyless entry and ignition are vulnerable.”

He recommends two simple counter-measures; using an old-style steering wheel crook lock, and a RFID key fob bag.

“This prevents the signal from the key from being picked up,” said Pc Bullock. “Alternatively completely wrapping the key fob in several layers of tinfoil will achieve the same effect.”