Sales of Steering Locks Double as Drivers Go Low-Tech
Sales of steering locks have doubled as drivers go back to basics to stay one step ahead of technologically savvy car thieves.
Motorists are being forced to rely on the low-tech devices as gangs use gadgets to nullify a car’s defences, without the owner catching on.
Disklock, a leading manufacturer of steering locks, said its sales had increased more than double over the past year.
The amount of cars reported stolen has risen 30 per cent in the past four years, with 85,688 this year compared to 65,783 in 2013, according to data compiled by the RAC.
Mark Godfrey, a director with RAC Insurance, told the Sunday Times: ‘We fear thieves are now becoming able to defeat manufacturers’ anti-theft systems.
‘Steering wheel locks are starting to make a comeback, as they are still an effective visible deterrent.’
Thieves are making off with cars by using new devices called locking jammers, which work by blocking the signal sent to a car by its key when an owner is trying to lock it.
Another gadget used by criminals is a relay box, which searches for a signal from the key inside a driver’s house and transmits it to the second box next to the car.
The car’s locking system is tricked into thinking the car key is unlocking it, allowing access to the vehicle.
Thefts of this nature are becoming so widespread that drivers have been advised to take precautions, including storing keys in a safe because metal can repel relay signals.
Two hooded criminals were able to override a Mercedes’ security system while it sat on the drive of an owner’s house in Solihull, Birmingham, in September.
CCTV footage showed the men pull up outside the victim’s home and wave a relay box in front of property.
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