As the younger generations become the main drivers on the UK’s roads, fewer motorists will recall the simple flat blades that, until the 1990s, were common across all makes and models of cars. Made from metal and featuring distinctive ridges and grooves that matched the locking mechanisms on the vehicle, these primitive keys were easy to duplicate but, conversely, easy to steal.
Advances in vehicle security have significantly reduced the number of car thefts in the UK in the last 30 years, but car crime is a persistent problem that hasn’t gone away.
Keyless entry systems are an increasingly common feature of modern vehicles, offering car owners enhanced levels of convenience and reducing the likelihood and cost of being locked out. However, according to a leading automotive magazine and website, it can be 90 per cent faster for a thief to steal a keyless car than a model with a conventional key and ignition so it’s imperative that vehicle owners know how to stop keyless car theft by utilising effective anti-theft devices.
A surge in the number of rogue auto locksmiths operating in the UK has led the country’s largest trade body, the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA), to issue a warning to homeowners and motorists alike. Losing car keys is an alarming situation, especially when the vehicle is essential for commuting or ferrying children to school, so it’s unsurprising that car owners may panic and fail to check out the credentials of their chosen auto locksmith.
The theft of cars with keyless entry systems is accelerating rapidly and now accounts for approximately 94 per cent of all thefts, according to research. Keyless entry and starting may offer drivers the ultimate convenience, but there’s little benefit if these systems can be easily bypassed by criminals. Therefore, vehicle owners must take action to protect their assets and frustrate thieves’ efforts to gain unauthorised access to their cars.