Keyless starting cars in Salisbury targeted by thieves

A number of keyless starting cars have been stolen in Salisbury in recent weeks.

That's prompting Wiltshire Police to ask owners to 'be mindful of security' and for them to offer some advice.

We're told that a Ford Ranger was stolen on January 25th, after having been left locked and secured.

A Ford Kuga was taken on January 31st, when both sets of keys were inside the house and the car have been left locked.

Then, on February 2nd, a Volvo XC40 was stolen from a driveway, while it was parked securely and the keys were inside the address.

That vehicle's since been recovered in the Thames Valley area.

Inspector Tina Osborn said:

“Reports of this nature are taken extremely seriously – we understand the impact that the theft of such a vehicle can have on the victims. Not only financially, but it can cause huge disruption to someone’s life, especially if the vehicle is their only means of getting to and from work or caring for family members. It can leave victims feeling extremely vulnerable.

“Extensive enquiries in relation to these latest incidents are being undertaken and we continue to work closely with neighbouring forces as often those who commit these types of crimes will travel further afield in a bid to evade police.”

Advice from police

Officers have issued a number of tips to owners of cars with keyless start systems:

• Keep your vehicle locked, windows shut and your keys secure

• Put the key card/fob in a Faraday case/pouch to block any transmissions

• Park the vehicle in a locked garage where possible

• Where possible, park in a well-lit area and in clear view of your property and any CCTV cameras

• Do not leave any valuables such as wallets, phones, Sat Navs etc. on display

• Use an additional steering lock

• Mark the items of property/tools that are stored in the vehicle using an artificial DNA property marker such as Smartwater or SelectaDNA

• If you have a second, non-keyless vehicle, park that behind the higher value one

• Check with your car dealership as they can offer advice and the manufacturer/dealer can often track the vehicle if it is stolen

• If the vehicle is a company car, check with your fleet managers who can offer crime prevention and tracking advice

We're asked to report any suspicious activity to Wiltshire Police on 101, or by calling 999 if a crime's in progress.

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