Motorists have welcomed new driving laws which will help crack down on the growing number of keyless car thefts which have been sweeping across the UK.
The Crime and Policing Bill will now make it illegal to possess electronic devices commonly used by criminals to steal vehicles without keys.
Under the new law, anyone found with signal jammers and similar equipment in vehicles could face up to five years in prison and unlimited fines.
The legislation marks a significant shift from current rules, which only allow prosecution when there is evidence the devices have been used in criminal activity.
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Drivers caught with signal jammers could face up to five years’ imprisonment
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The bill, which was introduced last month, aims to tackle the rising problem of sophisticated vehicle theft across England and Wales.
The new legislation will target not only those possessing these electronic devices but also individuals involved in importing, manufacturing, adapting or distributing jamming equipment.
Signal jammers work by blocking remote locks, enabling thieves to gain access to vehicles without requiring a key. The devices can be purchased for as little as £250, making them easily accessible to criminals.
The law is part of a broader Government effort to tackle organised crime groups who exploit vulnerabilities in vehicle security systems.
The need for tighter rules comes after alarming statistics on vehicle theft. Police forces revealed these devices are used in four out of every 10 vehicle thefts across England and Wales, with the figure rising to 60 per cent in London.
Home Office figures also showed there were 732,000 incidents of vehicle-related theft in the year ending September 2024.
Data from Tracker revealed that 97 per cent of vehicles it recovered in 2024 were stolen without the key fob being present.
Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison at Tracker, explained that the most prevalent form of keyless theft is “relay attack”, which involves two perpetrators working together using an electronic device to “intercept a short-range key fob signal, usually when the key fob is within the victim’s home“.
Another method involves “hacking of a vehicle’s CAN bus or circuit board to disable locking and alarm systems,” Wain stated.
Criminals also frequently use GPS jammers to disrupt signals to and from GPS satellite devices, making stolen vehicles “disappear off the radar.” Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson highlighted the serious impact of these thefts on everyday people.
She added: “These thefts have a devastating effect on victims, who need their vehicles to go about their everyday lives. We are aware of the real concerns people feel with the use of these electronic devices being so prolific.”
In 2024, Tracker worked alongside UK police to recover £24million worth of stolen vehicles, leading to 144 arrests. Tracker technology works like an electronic homing device with a covert transmitter hidden in vehicles. To help prevent thefts, the company has issued advice for motorists.
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The brand recommended keeping key fobs in a closed tin or faraday bag to block signals and storing them away from where vehicles are kept.
Drivers should also never leave a car running unattended, even when defrosting windows on cold mornings. They are advised to consider physical barriers like security posts or substantial gates for driveway parking.
