Keyless Car Theft: 6 Signs Your Car Is a Target
Car thieves don't pick at random. They look for easy, high-value targets they can take quickly and quietly. If several of these apply to your car, it's worth acting before you become a statistic.
1. It has keyless entry or push-button start
Keyless convenience is the number-one enabler of modern theft. If you don't press a button to unlock, a relay attack can copy your key's signal from inside your house. This is the single biggest risk factor.
2. It's a popular or desirable model
Thieves steal to order and to break for parts. Common models move fast; prestige and performance cars fetch more. Either way, popularity is a magnet.
3. It lives on the street or an open driveway
A car parked within signal range of your front door — where the keys usually sit — is the perfect relay target. On-street and open-driveway parking give thieves cover and a quick getaway.
4. You rely on factory security only
The alarm and immobiliser your car came with are exactly what relay theft is designed to walk past. If that's all you've got, you're relying on the one defence thieves have already beaten.
5. There have been thefts or attempts nearby
Theft clusters. If neighbours have lost cars, or you've found yours unlocked or disturbed, you're likely being scouted. Treat a near miss as a warning, not luck.
6. Your keys sit near the door
A hook by the front door is convenient for you — and for a relay team outside. The closer the key is to the street, the easier the grab.
What to do about it
Start with the easy layers: a Faraday pouch for the keys, parking defensively, a visible steering lock — see our full keyless-theft guide. Then add the one thing that stops the car being driven even if the key is relayed: an app-controlled immobiliser that only releases for your phone. It's the difference between hoping and knowing.
We fit IMMOSTOP across the West Midlands and nationwide, on everyday cars through to supercars.
On the target list? Take your car off it. Protect it with IMMOSTOP, £349 all-in, fitted →