Motorists urged to be vigilant following keyless thefts

We are reminding drivers of keyless cars and vans to ensure their vehicles are kept secure at all times. It comes following two recent keyless thefts in Newcastle-under-Lyme where two Mercedes GLC cars were targeted. We were first called to Great Row View, Wolstanton, yesterday (Monday 14 August) following reports of a black Mercedes GLC stolen from a property during the early hours of the day. The car was last seen on the A50 in Heron Cross just after 2.30am yesterday (Monday 14 August).

We also received reports of a grey Mercedes GLC stolen from an address on Hassam Parade, Newcastle-under-Lyme. The grey Mercedes was stolen between 6.30pm on Monday (14 August) and 7.20am today (Tuesday 15 August). Inspector James Howard, of the Newcastle local policing team, said: “If you have a keyless car/vehicle, consider purchasing a key security pouch (also known as a Faraday pouch) to keep your car entry devices in while inside the house. These block the ability of thieves to access the key signal “Always check your car doors have locked after pressing your key fob. “Park in a garage if possible, or another secure area, where it is difficult to get the car out if accessed. “And think about using a steering wheel lock.” Officers believe offenders may be using keyless ‘laptop-sized’ relay devices or so-called ‘skeleton keys’ to access vehicles. If you have a keyless van, James added: “Where possible, lock your van in a secure garage or use a steering lock to deter any opportunists from targeting your vehicle. “If possible, make sure your van is parked in direct view of CCTV cameras. “You should attempt to remove tools from vans overnight. An alternative can be to mark them clearly with their name using paint pens and sealing that with a clear lacquer spray. “I would also suggest using a lockable cabinet and small cameras can also be installed inside vans.”