A spate of high-value car thefts by thieves hacking keyless entry systems has alarmed many owners in London – explaining the rise in the number of motorists turning back to old-fashioned steering wheel locks.
Another approach is to keep your high-tech key inside a wallet specially designed to prevent thieves using devices that ‘trick’ your car into behaving as though the key is nearby.
Halfords – which reported a 50 per cent rise in steering lock sales last year and a 100 per cent rise in signal-blocking wallet sales in January, produce their own wallet costing just £10.
Slightly smaller than a mobile phone, incorporating a Velcro-fastening flap, two slim line compartments and a metal loop on which to attach your car key, the ‘Faraday’ wallet, with an outer shell of black nylon, fits most car fobs – even chunky ones – currently on the market.
Pavan Sondhi, Halfords’s car security expert says: “In-car security systems can only do so much to prevent a car being stolen. It seems that many anti-theft systems can be easily bypassed and using a simple device like an RFID wallet can prevent your fob being hacked. We’ve seen sales of our wallets soar in the last few weeks. To guard against falling victim to car thieves, police are advising drivers to invest in a physical deterrent. ”
It’s a bit of a nuisance having to hide your key in the wallet every time you lock up and put the key down – but you soon become used to the routine. And it’s certainly a lot less hassle than losing your car. More here.
David Williams can be found Tweeting at @djrwilliams
