How To Prevent Keyless Car Theft
The blog this week is about tips to keep your keyless car from being stolen using technology. Everyone is trying to save money at the moment, interest rates are rising, fuel bills are rising, food costs are soaring etc so when it comes to owning a car, we need all the help we can get to keep costs down. Read on to find out more:
It is reported that vehicle thefts are on the rise in the UK, with a car stolen every five minutes. This is, in part, down to the introduction of keyless vehicles, which has led to a new technique in car theft – and can take as little as a minute to carry out. So, what is Keyless Technology? Basically, it allows you to open your car door without pressing the open button on your key fob. When you put your hand on your car’s door handle, the vehicle sends out a radio signal and, provided your key fob is within range, the door will open.
However, we have all seen the somewhat daily reports from people who have had their vehicles taken from their driveways during the night. There is no need to smash windows, jimmy door locks etc, someone stands outside with a laptop and before you know it, they are in your car and driving away. Why/How can this happen? This technology can be vulnerable to hacking, with criminal gangs developing new ways to pick up the signal from a key fob which is inside your house and transmit it to the car. So, what can you do to prevent you from become one of these statistics?
- Try to block the signal
There are several items on the market designed to block the signal from your key to your car, but metal-lined Faraday pouches or boxes are by far the most effective. You simply put your key in them when you come home. You can also wrap foil around your key fob. - Make It Harder To Enhance The Signal
Keep your key fob far away from your Volvo or Toyota. So many of us have the habit of leaving our keys on a hook near the front door or on a table in the corridor. Don’t make a thief’s job easy. Move your keys as far away from your car as possible. - Switch Off Your Key Fob
If you are away from home for an extended period – such as a holiday and leaving your keys and car behind it may be possible to switch off your key fob. Check your owner’s manual to see if you have this functionality. - Demobilise Your Vehicle
Go back to basics – put the steering wheel on lock or get a steering wheel lock – the ones we used to use to deter thieves. If there are multiple vehicles in the household parking on a drive – park so the most desirable car if the hardest to get off the drive quickly – if a thief has to move several cars they will walk away. Again – go back to basics and remove anything of value from sight don’t ask for trouble. No bags, jewellery, cash, or laptops on show. - Tracking Devices
You could consider adding a tracking device to your vehicle, especially if it is a sought after vehicle by thieves. If thieves do get away with it, the chances of you getting it back will significantly increase. Widely available and reasonably priced, these types of devices could help to quickly locate your stolen car. Some insurance companies can insist that your vehicle has this fitted before they will insure it. Happy Safe Motoring Folks!
Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire.
