How thieves stole £30k car in less than a minute without using a key

Thieves managed to steal a £30k car in less than a minute from outside a home – without even using a key.

Shocking CCTV footage shows how easily they committed their crime using a so-called ‘relay technique’.

Experts have issued advice as to how to protect yourself from falling victim to this terrifying trick, including storing fobs and keys away from doors.

Jason Lang, 49, was asleep in the early hours of Wednesday morning when he fell victim to criminals using the ‘relay’ technique, the Manchester Evening News reports.

A car reversed into his one-way street in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, and stopped outside his driveway.

Two men then got out wearing hoods and gloves and concealing their faces.

One stayed beside Mr Lang’s £30,000 Toyota with a transmitter, while the other walked towards his front door waving a relay amplifier.

If the car’s fob is close enough, this tricks the locking system into thinking the key is nearby and unlocks the doors.

It’s then a simple matter of pressing the start button and driving the car away.

The technique – using relatively cheap gadgets that can be bought online – is swift and silent.

Mr Lang, a property developer, didn’t heard a thing and said he only realised his car was gone when he left his front door at 9am for work.

"My first thought was that I must have left it at my business," said Mr Lang.

"But then I thought about it and knew I definitely hadn’t.

"So I came in and looked at the CCTV and there it was.

"I’d heard vaguely [of the relay technique] but the thing is – the key was at least 30ft away inside the house.

"It must be a powerful transmitter, I couldn’t believe it."

Mr Lang has reported the theft to police and his insurance company.

But he says the incident has left him wary of keyless ignition systems.

"I’m gutted – I’d barely had the car 12 months," he said.

"It’s unbelievable when you see the footage – they were so quick. It shouldn’t be that simple to steal a high-value car like that."

It is thought the ‘relay’ theft technique has contributed to a 44 per cent rise in car theft in Greater Manchester in recent years – twice the national average.

Police figures show that between October 2015 and September 2016, 4,572 vehicles were stolen in the region. The figure for the same period in 2016/17 was 6,564.

Richard Billyeald, chief technical officer at Thatcham Research, experts in vehicle safety and security, said: “Keyless entry systems on cars offer convenience to drivers, but can in some situations be exploited by criminals.

“Concerned drivers should contact their dealer for information and guidance, and follow our simple security steps.

“We are working closely with the police and vehicle manufacturers to address this vulnerability, continuing our approach that has driven vehicle crime down 80pc from its peak in 1992.”

There are a few simple measures drivers can take. And unlike criminals’ ever-more sophisticated methods, they’re relatively simple.

People with keyless cars are urged to use old fashioned crook locks for steering wheels or gear sticks; install a driveway parking post; or use a wheel clamp.

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Car dealerships may also be able to upgrade a car’s technology to help foil criminals – and fobs can be deactivated at night in some cases.

Richard Billyeald, chief technical officer at Thatcham Research, recommended drivers:

*Contact their dealer and talk about their car’s digital features in your car and possible software updates.

*Check if entry fobs can be turned off – and do so at night if possible.

*Store keys and fobs away from doors and windows. Keeping your keyless entry fob out of sight is not enough – thieves only need to be near it to amplify its signal.

*Store fobs in a Faraday container or metal tin, but test it is effective in blocking the signal.

Mirror Online has contacted Greater Manchester Police for comment.

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