Keyless vehicle ignition systems and key fob jammers

The Daily Mail are currently running a campaign to highlight the issues of increased car crime, in particular relating to ‘keyless’ vehicles. Most of these vehicles are ‘high end’ cars but it also applies to other manufacturers like Volkswagen and Ford. They are trying to put pressure on car manufacturers to improve security on their vehicles.

Some criminals are using ‘relays’ by standing near your front door and relaying the signal from the ‘keys’ in the owners home to the vehicle to start it and drive off without the ‘keys’. We believe ‘relays’ have been used nearby to steal vehicles.

In addition ‘jammers’ are being used to stop the vehicle being locked when you walk away from it, even though you may think it has locked. The RRA are aware that ‘jammers’ have probably been used locally to steal items from vehicles. The individual is nearby and is watching you ‘lock’ the vehicle but ‘jams’ the central locking system. This method applies to all types of key fobs that rely on a central locking system.

The advice is, to always ensure the central locking has worked when you leave your vehicle (the hazard lights should flash and listen for the clunk) and to keep any keys if you have a ‘keyless’ vehicle away from where the vehicle is parked and preferably in a metal tin, or a Faraday bag which can be purchased via Amazon etc. This stops the signal from the ‘key’ being transmitted to the vehicle.

Key Fob Jammers

The RRA have been made aware that a number of Riddlesdown residents have had possessions stolen from their vehicles even though it hasn’t been broken into. The owners are convinced they locked their vehicles with the fob. However, it appears thieves are nearby and are blocking the fob signal with an electronic device so the motorists thinks the vehicle has locked. Always make sure you hear the central locking ‘clunk’ and also check the hazard lights flash when locking the vehicle. If this doesn’t happen the signal may be in the process of being blocked.

Car Number Plate Theft and Cloning

Number plate theft continues to be a problem in our area and many plates are used for serious criminal activity. The theft resistant number plate is made to stop anyone taking it off your vehicle quickly and reusing it on another vehicle.

The reasons behind number plate theft

The vehicle registration mark on a number plate is the key piece of information that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) use to look up keeper details on a vehicle record. Stolen number plates are used on vehicles, by those who don’t want to be found out when they commit such offences as:

  •  speeding
  •  illegal parking
  •  not paying congestion charges
  •  driving away from a petrol forecourt without paying
  •  not paying for parking tickets or speeding fines
  •  ‘disguising’ a stolen vehicle

Vehicles with stolen number plates have also been used in more serious crimes such as kidnapping and robbery.

What to do if your number plates have been stolen

If your number plates are stolen, DVLA advises you to report the theft to the police. If you receive fines or correspondence after the theft, you should return them immediately to the issuing authority with an explanation and any documentary evidence.

Note: It is an offence to display the wrong vehicle registration mark on a vehicle with a maximum penalty of £1,000.

Theft Resistant Number Plates

You can buy Anti-theft screws for your number plates from Halfords or Amazon. They only cost a few pounds and could save you a lot of hassle in the long run. It is also worth speaking to your Safer Neighbourhood Team, they may be able to assist.

The benefits of theft resistant number plates

The DVLA works with number plate manufacturers and others, to develop an agreed standard for theft resistant number plates. The numerous benefits the new plates can offer include:

  •  cutting the number of car owners faced with motoring related fines for something they didn’t do
  •  preventing vehicle cloning (copying the identity of a similar vehicle) and reselling them to unsuspecting motorists

Contact your local car dealer or registered number plate supplier for further information including fitting and cost.

Selling Vehicles

It has never been easier to buy or sell a vehicle than it is now – thanks to the internet. The ability to upload and view photos and vehicle descriptions, and contact buyers and sellers – all with a click – have transformed the business, and people’s experience of buying and selling. 

However, the internet has also made it easier for dishonest buyers and sellers to defraud larger numbers of people, so there are a number of things you need to be aware of before going online to sell a vehicle. 

Safe Selling

Make sure any test driver has a valid driving licence and suitable insurance cover. You could be liable for any accidents they may have.

To avoid buyers being left alone (and potentially driving away) with your vehicle, keep hold of their keys at all times and avoid leaving them in the ignition.

Never hand over the vehicle keys or documentation until your bank has confirmed the full value of the vehicle has cleared into your bank account.

Never send money abroad.

Never pay a large deposit.

Don’t be pressured into releasing your vehicle – a genuine buyer will not mind waiting until the draft has cleared.

Be careful about how you take payment:

  •  Cash – ask for the cash to be handed to you in a bank, where the notes can be checked for forgeries and paid in immediately.
  •  Cheques – never let the buyer take your vehicle until the funds have cleared in your bank account.
  •  Bank drafts – are not as good as cash, so treat them in the way you would a personal cheque.
  •  Online bank transfer is one of the safest ways to pay as it avoids handling large amounts of cash and the problems associated with cheques.

And as with all kinds of online transactions, always observe the following precautions:

  •  Do not reply to, or click on links contained in, unsolicited or spam e-mails from companies or individuals you do not recognise. 
  • Before entering payment card details on a website, ensure that the link is secure, in three ways:
  •  There should be a padlock symbol in the browser window frame, which appears when you attempt to log in or register. Be sure that the padlock is not on the page itself … this will probably indicate a fraudulent site.

The web address should begin with ‘https://’. The ‘s’ stands for ‘secure’.

  •  If using the latest version of your browser, the address bar or the name of the site owner will turn green. 
  •  Double check all details of your purchase before confirming payment.
  •  Some websites will redirect you to a third-party payment service (such as WorldPay). Ensure that these sites are secure before you make your payment.
  •  Choose safe passwords and do not reveal them to anybody, however trustworthy you think t they may be.
  • Always log out of websites into which you have logged in or registered details. Simply closing your browser is not enough to ensure privacy.
  •  Keep receipts.  
  •  Remember that paying by credit card offers greater protection than with other methods in terms of fraud, guarantees and non-delivery.
  •  Check credit card and bank statements carefully after shopping to ensure that the correct amount has been debited, and also that no fraud has taken place as a result of the transaction. 
  •  Ensure you have effective and updated antivirus/antispyware software and firewall running before you go online.
  •  Ensure that if you are using a wireless network, it is secure and encrypted.

If you suspect anything

  •  If you receive an email which you believe to be from a fraudster, do not respond, but forward it to the abuse department of the sender’s email provider and use your email software to block further emails from the sender.

If you receive a text message asking you to phone a premium rate number, contact the free PhonepayPlus helpline on 0800 500 212. Alternatively, you can make a complaint to PhonepayPlus or check a premium rate number.

If you think you have been a victim of vehicle fraud: 

Report it to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting centre by calling 0300 123 20 40 or by visiting; www.actionfraud.police.uk