What is 'relay crime'? The new trick thieves are using to steal cars without unlocking them

Gone are the days of lock-picking skills because a new wave of crime, dubbed ‘relay crime’, means a car can be stolen almost hands-free.

CCTV footage of one of the first relay crimes was captured by West Midlands Police, and shows two men using nothing but a relay signal box to steal a Mercedes car in less than a minute.

The car, which was stolen from the Solihull area in the West Midlands at around 9pm on 24 September, has not yet been recovered.

‘To protect against this type of theft, owners can use an additional tested and Thatcham-approved steering lock to cover the entire steering wheel,’ said Mark Silvester from the West Midlands Police crime reduction team.

‘It is always worth speaking to your main dealer, to ensure that your car has had all the latest software updates and talk through security concerns with them.’

Sergeant Tim Evans of Solihull Police said: ‘It’s important the public are reassured that we are taking proactive steps to tackle this type of crime in Solihull.

‘We hope that knowledge of this type of crime will enable members of the public to take simple steps to secure their vehicle and assist us.’

What is relay crime?

Relay crime uses a relay signal box to detect a nearby car key. One box is held close to the key (so those who leave keys by the front door should be warned) and the other, next to the car. The box will pick up the signal and will trick the car into thinking the key is being held next to it. As a result, the car will unlock.

How does it work?

The trick only works with cars that can be unlocked remotely, or without having to physically place the key in the door. The relay box essentially carries the signal over to the car, allowing it to unlock easily. The signal can travel through walls, doors and windows, but not metal.

Which cars are affected?

Research conducted by The Sun in May 2017 found vehicles from 30 manufacturers could be unlocked with a device. These included cars from BMW, Ford, Audi, Land Rover, Hyundai and VW.

How can it be prevented?

Police advise installing a Thatcham-approved tracking solution to the vehicle and/or a manual steering lock. Better yet, leave car keys somewhere far away from the front door or in close proximity to the car. For those especially concerned, take the battery out of the car key overnight or store it in a metal box.

How common is it?

This is not the first instance in the Solihull area although the video above is thought to be one of the first. However, relay boxes aren’t difficult to get hold of, meaning it could quickly become a more popular tactic for car thieves.

Lorna Connelly, head of claims at Admiral said: ‘Unfortunately, we do see a claims from customers who have had their cars stolen due to relay theft and it’s a problem that we would advise motorists with keyless cars to be aware of.

‘Despite progresses in anti-theft technology, thieves are always coming up with new ways to make off with your vehicle.

‘We are urging all of our customers to keep their keys a safe distance from the door and consider storing them in a metal box. While this may seem like an extreme solution, relay theft is an extreme practice.’

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