startbuttonFor the most part, cars these days still require keys to start their engine, although some of the higher-end and newer models do not. Instead there is a button that drivers can press in order to start their engines. Pretty cool, huh? Unfortunately it seems that it is this keyless technology that has led to the rise of car thefts, according to London’s Metropolitan Police.

While there have been a rise of keyless car thefts in the past few years, a recent report released by the Metropolitan Police has revealed that keyless car thefts actually account for over a quarter of vehicle thefts in London, which is actually a pretty staggering amount. The report claims that 6,283 cars and vans were stolen without the need for the owner’s key, thanks to the thieves who bypassed the vehicle’s electronic information.

Alternatively the police suggest that the thieves could be physically breaking into the vehicle’s OBD port that lets them download the car’s information and print a new key. Ford Transits and Mercedes Sprinter vans were also found to be the most targeted vehicles, while Ford Fiestas, BMWs, and Land Rovers were also pretty popular amongst car thieves.

The Metropolitan Police have since recommended car owners to protect their vehicles like they would their home by adding more security measures, such as a steering lock, an OBD lock, a tracker, and so on. They are also hoping to reduce the amount of keyless crimes by as much as 20% by 2016.

[Image credit – Audizine]

Filed in Transportation..

Discover more from Ubergizmo

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading