A crackdown on the theft of vehicles from driveways will see new laws introduced to ban devices which can clone electronic keys.
Criminals can target cars which activate automatically when a fob is nearby. The cloning devices have been blamed for a massive increase in thefts of high-tech vehicles which in turn has forced insurers to push up premiums.
The thieves use electronic equipment designed for legitimate locksmiths and garages to copy keys inside homes, allowing cars to be driven away.
The Home Office is working on a law “to ban electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target those criminals using, manufacturing and supplying them”.
Measures are expected to be included in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill, which will also include measures to crack down on shoplifting and new “respect orders” banning persistent offenders from high streets.
Policing minister Diana Johnson held talks two weeks ago with the National Police Chiefs’ Council about proposals to cut car theft after the number of stolen vehicles recorded by police shot up. Incidents rose from 70,053 in 2013-14 to 128,553 in 2023-24.
Crime figures show four in ten cases involve the offender using the signal from an electronic key. This typically involves technology that receives it from a key inside a property and sends it to a device held near the car. This fools the car into thinking the key is nearby, the doors unlock and the engine can be started.
The practice is known as relay car theft because the key’s signal is “relayed” to a device.
The growing problem is one of the reasons insurance premiums have risen to an average of £622 – 21 per cent higher than a year ago, according to the Association of British Insurers.
Other factors include an increase in the cost of repairing damaged vehicles. People who keep keys near the front door and their vehicle on the drive close by can be particularly vulnerable and car owners can protect themselves by storing keys in a container called a Faraday Bag which blocks the signal.
An Association of British Insurers spokesperson said: “Vehicle theft remains a serious problem.
“So far this year, insurers have settled more than 40,000 claims for stolen vehicles and have paid out more than £490 million to support affected customers.
“The industry invests millions each year to combat vehicle crime and help customers to protect their vehicles, and the Government’s efforts to combat thefts are welcome.
“We look forward to seeing more details in the Crime and Policing Bill and will continue to work with Government and the police to clamp down on these sorts of crimes.”
Minister for Crime and Policing, Dame Diana Johnson said: “Vehicle theft has a devastating effect on victims and we are aware of the real concerns people have in their day-to-day lives.
“In the last year alone there were over 128,000 vehicle thefts, which is why we are focused on tackling this issue at source and have committed to bringing forward legislation to ban electronic devices used to steal vehicles, preventing them from getting into the hands of organised crime groups.
“We will continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, which includes supporting their National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership, which brings together the police and manufacturers to clamp down on vehicle crime.”
