A burnt out car (Image: Getty)
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.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
The National Lottery's biggest winners - and those who blew the lot to end up penniless
2 Comments
Blitz on key-cloning tech to fight car theft
Comments
Fears England football teams could be banned from European competitions
2 Comments
Labour concerns brew after Keir Starmer's first globe-trotting 5 months in power
100 Comments
5 times Starmer called for softer immigration rules as Government blasts 'broken' system
144 Comments
Keir Starmer 'open' to Elgin Marbles deal with Greece as PM prepares for key meeting
250 Comments
POLL: Has Labour has done a good job in their first five months in power?
354 Comments
Viral general election petition soars to nearly 3m signatures as Keir Starmer faces crisis
885 Comments
'The assisted dying battle is far from over - but today we breathe a sigh of relief'
375 Comments
Moment Keir Starmer crosses House of Commons to speak with Nigel Farage
369 Comments
How your MP voted on assisted dying as it passes in landmark vote
205 Comments
When will assisted dying be legal in Britain after landmark vote? Your questions explained
18 Comments
What happens next after historic Assisted Dying vote?
10 Comments
Celebration and tears of joy as Assisted Dying Bill passes after tireless Express campaign
272 Comments
Motorists handed rip-off fuel prices warning amid weak competition on forecourts
3 Comments
Halfords begs Rachel Reeves for help as it faces ￡23m employer NI hit
6 Comments
Map shows the UK town where you're more likely to have your car stolen - full list
10 Comments
Police arrest five suspected Channel migrant smugglers in dawn raids across London
23 Comments
Warning to diesel drivers over tax increase from new DVLA system
4 Comments
'End the madness!' Fury as asylum bill hits staggering ￡5bn
169 Comments
The National Lottery's biggest winners - and those who blew the lot to end up penniless
2 Comments
Blitz on key-cloning tech to fight car theft
Comments
Fears England football teams could be banned from European competitions
2 Comments
Labour concerns brew after Keir Starmer's first globe-trotting 5 months in power
100 Comments
5 times Starmer called for softer immigration rules as Government blasts 'broken' system
144 Comments
Keir Starmer 'open' to Elgin Marbles deal with Greece as PM prepares for key meeting
250 Comments
POLL: Has Labour has done a good job in their first five months in power?
354 Comments
Viral general election petition soars to nearly 3m signatures as Keir Starmer faces crisis
885 Comments
'The assisted dying battle is far from over - but today we breathe a sigh of relief'
375 Comments
Moment Keir Starmer crosses House of Commons to speak with Nigel Farage
369 Comments
How your MP voted on assisted dying as it passes in landmark vote
205 Comments
When will assisted dying be legal in Britain after landmark vote? Your questions explained
18 Comments
What happens next after historic Assisted Dying vote?
10 Comments
Celebration and tears of joy as Assisted Dying Bill passes after tireless Express campaign
272 Comments
Motorists handed rip-off fuel prices warning amid weak competition on forecourts
3 Comments
Halfords begs Rachel Reeves for help as it faces ￡23m employer NI hit
6 Comments
Map shows the UK town where you're more likely to have your car stolen - full list
10 Comments
Police arrest five suspected Channel migrant smugglers in dawn raids across London
23 Comments
Warning to diesel drivers over tax increase from new DVLA system
4 Comments
'End the madness!' Fury as asylum bill hits staggering ￡5bn
169 Comments
The National Lottery's biggest winners - and those who blew the lot to end up penniless
2 Comments
Blitz on key-cloning tech to fight car theft
Comments
Fears England football teams could be banned from European competitions
2 Comments
Labour concerns brew after Keir Starmer's first globe-trotting 5 months in power
100 Comments
5 times Starmer called for softer immigration rules as Government blasts 'broken' system
144 Comments
Keir Starmer 'open' to Elgin Marbles deal with Greece as PM prepares for key meeting
250 Comments
POLL: Has Labour has done a good job in their first five months in power?
354 Comments
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.
Don't miss...
Assisted dying protestors erupt in celebration but warn 'it's not the end' [LATEST]
'Dad died of starvation and mum had to watch - no one should suffer like this' [LATEST]
'My dog had a more dignified death than my mum - assisted dying bill must pass' [LATEST]
Assisted dying live updates as MPs vote in favour of landmark bill [LATEST]
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.
Don't miss...
NHS bosses who cover up mistakes face the sack to prevent another Lucy Letby ... [LATEST]
Food prices could shoot up again as weather and Labour's Budget hits supplier... [LATEST]
London councils are 'exiling' their poor to the north of England [LATEST]
Pensioners to freeze in cold snap after Labour's 'cruel' cuts [LATEST]
Trending
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
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.”
DON'T MISS
Powered by
The National Lottery's biggest winners - and those who blew the lot to end up penniless
2 Comments
Blitz on key-cloning tech to fight car theft
Comments
Fears England football teams could be banned from European competitions
2 Comments
Labour concerns brew after Keir Starmer's first globe-trotting 5 months in power
100 Comments
5 times Starmer called for softer immigration rules as Government blasts 'broken' system
144 Comments
Keir Starmer 'open' to Elgin Marbles deal with Greece as PM prepares for key meeting
251 Comments
POLL: Has Labour has done a good job in their first five months in power?
354 Comments
Viral general election petition soars to nearly 3m signatures as Keir Starmer faces crisis
885 Comments
'The assisted dying battle is far from over - but today we breathe a sigh of relief'
375 Comments
Moment Keir Starmer crosses House of Commons to speak with Nigel Farage
369 Comments
How your MP voted on assisted dying as it passes in landmark vote
205 Comments
When will assisted dying be legal in Britain after landmark vote? Your questions explained
18 Comments
What happens next after historic Assisted Dying vote?
10 Comments
Celebration and tears of joy as Assisted Dying Bill passes after tireless Express campaign
272 Comments
Motorists handed rip-off fuel prices warning amid weak competition on forecourts
3 Comments
Halfords begs Rachel Reeves for help as it faces ￡23m employer NI hit
6 Comments
Map shows the UK town where you're more likely to have your car stolen - full list
10 Comments
Police arrest five suspected Channel migrant smugglers in dawn raids across London
23 Comments
Warning to diesel drivers over tax increase from new DVLA system
4 Comments
'End the madness!' Fury as asylum bill hits staggering ￡5bn
169 Comments
The National Lottery's biggest winners - and those who blew the lot to end up penniless
2 Comments
Blitz on key-cloning tech to fight car theft
Comments
Fears England football teams could be banned from European competitions
2 Comments
Labour concerns brew after Keir Starmer's first globe-trotting 5 months in power
100 Comments
5 times Starmer called for softer immigration rules as Government blasts 'broken' system
144 Comments
Keir Starmer 'open' to Elgin Marbles deal with Greece as PM prepares for key meeting
251 Comments
POLL: Has Labour has done a good job in their first five months in power?
354 Comments
Viral general election petition soars to nearly 3m signatures as Keir Starmer faces crisis
885 Comments
'The assisted dying battle is far from over - but today we breathe a sigh of relief'
375 Comments
Moment Keir Starmer crosses House of Commons to speak with Nigel Farage
369 Comments
How your MP voted on assisted dying as it passes in landmark vote
205 Comments
When will assisted dying be legal in Britain after landmark vote? Your questions explained
18 Comments
What happens next after historic Assisted Dying vote?
10 Comments
Celebration and tears of joy as Assisted Dying Bill passes after tireless Express campaign
272 Comments
Motorists handed rip-off fuel prices warning amid weak competition on forecourts
3 Comments
Halfords begs Rachel Reeves for help as it faces ￡23m employer NI hit
6 Comments
Map shows the UK town where you're more likely to have your car stolen - full list
10 Comments
Police arrest five suspected Channel migrant smugglers in dawn raids across London
23 Comments
Warning to diesel drivers over tax increase from new DVLA system
4 Comments
'End the madness!' Fury as asylum bill hits staggering ￡5bn
169 Comments
The National Lottery's biggest winners - and those who blew the lot to end up penniless
2 Comments
Blitz on key-cloning tech to fight car theft
Comments
Fears England football teams could be banned from European competitions
2 Comments
Labour concerns brew after Keir Starmer's first globe-trotting 5 months in power
100 Comments
5 times Starmer called for softer immigration rules as Government blasts 'broken' system
144 Comments
Keir Starmer 'open' to Elgin Marbles deal with Greece as PM prepares for key meeting
251 Comments
POLL: Has Labour has done a good job in their first five months in power?
354 Comments
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.”