Keyless entry was meant to make life easier — and it does. But it has also handed criminals a worryingly simple way to steal cars without ever touching your keys. If you drive a car with a push-button start or a proximity fob, this guide is for you.
Below, we explain exactly how keyless theft works, why it has become so common, and the layered approach that actually keeps your vehicle safe. Some of these steps cost under a tenner; others are professional upgrades. Together, they make your car a far harder target.
What is keyless car theft?
Keyless theft — usually called a relay attack — exploits the radio signal your fob constantly emits. It needs two people and two inexpensive devices, and it works like this:
- One thief stands near your home with a relay amplifier, picking up the signal from your fob — even when it is sitting on a hallway table or kitchen worktop.
- The device boosts that signal and transmits it to a second device held by an accomplice standing next to your car.
- Your car is fooled into thinking the key is right beside it. The doors unlock, the engine starts, and the car is driven away.
The whole thing can take under 30 seconds, leaves no sign of forced entry, and rarely triggers the alarm. By the time anyone notices, the car is long gone.
Why this matters more than ever
This is no longer a niche problem affecting only luxury cars. According to Home Office analysis published in July 2025, more than a quarter of vehicles on UK roads — over 27% — now use keyless systems that are vulnerable to relay attacks. That is more than one in every four cars, vans and motorbikes, including everyday family models and work vans.
The scale of vehicle theft underlines the point: around 375,000 vehicles were reported stolen in England and Wales in the year to September 2024. Just a few years ago, relay-style attacks accounted for a small fraction of thefts; today they are one of the most common methods. The threat has grown, so your protection should too.
The layered approach: defence in depth
No single gadget makes a car theft-proof. The trick is to stack several layers, so that even if one is bypassed, the next stops the thief in their tracks. Here is how to build that protection, from the cheapest steps up.
1. Block the signal
Your first and easiest line of defence is to stop your fob broadcasting while it sits at home.
- Use a Faraday pouch. These signal-blocking wallets cost around £10 and stop thieves picking up your fob’s signal. Buy a pair (one for the spare), and always test them — drop the key inside, lock the pouch, and check the car will not respond.
- Try a metal tin or box as a backup. It can block the signal, but test it first; results vary.
- Switch the fob off if you can. Some keys let you disable the wireless signal overnight. Check your handbook or the manufacturer’s website.
2. Keep keys away from doors and windows
Thieves have to grab the signal through your walls, so distance helps. Keep keys well inside the house, away from the front door, letterbox and ground-floor windows. If your car sits at the front of the house, store the keys at the back — and upstairs is better still.
3. Add a visible physical deterrent
Most modern car thieves carry laptops, not crowbars — so an old-fashioned mechanical lock is a genuine obstacle and an obvious deterrent. A quality steering wheel lock (such as a Disklok or Stoplock) takes time and effort to defeat, and a thief looking for a quick, silent job will usually move on. A wheel clamp, a lockable driveway post, or simply parking in a locked garage all add friction.
4. Fit a vehicle tracker
A tracker will not stop a determined thief, but it dramatically improves your chances of getting your car back. Thatcham-accredited trackers (such as S5 and S7 categories) work with a secure control centre that can pinpoint a stolen vehicle and liaise with the police for recovery. Many insurers recognise these systems and may reduce your premium. Autowagon installs vehicle trackers across the region — learn more on our key services page.
5. Install an aftermarket immobiliser (the gold standard)
This is the layer that defeats relay attacks at the source. An aftermarket CAN bus immobiliser such as the Autowatch Ghost II stops the engine starting unless a unique PIN sequence is entered using your car’s existing buttons — the steering wheel, door panels or centre console. Crucially:
- It has no key fob and no LED, and emits no radio signal, so there is nothing for a thief to clone, scan or grab.
- It communicates quietly through the car’s data network, so there are no wires to cut and nothing for diagnostic tools to find.
- Even if a thief has your actual key, the car will not move without the PIN.
- It is TASSA-approved when professionally fitted by an accredited installer, which many insurers recognise — and it can help reduce premiums.
In practice, the only way to take a Ghost-protected car is to physically tow it, and even then the thief cannot drive it. Pair a Ghost immobiliser with a tracker and you have one of the strongest defences available to a private motorist. Autowagon offers professional Ghost immobiliser installation alongside our auto locksmith services.
What to do if your car is stolen
If the worst happens, act quickly:
- Call the police and report the theft. Get a crime reference number — your insurer will need it.
- Contact your insurer as soon as possible.
- If you have a tracker, alert the control centre so recovery can begin.
- Secure any spare keys, and if you recover the car, have the locks recoded so the thieves cannot simply return.
If your keys themselves are lost or stolen rather than the car, see our guide on what to do if you lose your car keys, and remember that recoding the locks stops the missing key ever being used again.
A quick word on signal jammers
You may have read about “signal jammers” used to block your fob from locking the car. These are illegal to use in the UK, and new measures carry criminal penalties for possessing or using them. The practical takeaway for drivers is simple: always physically check your car has locked before you walk away. Listen for the clunk, watch for the indicators, and give the door handle a tug.
Protect your vehicle across Norfolk, Suffolk & Cambridgeshire
Autowagon installs Ghost immobilisers, vehicle trackers and advanced anti-theft systems throughout Norwich, Great Yarmouth, King’s Lynn, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge and the surrounding towns — see all the areas we cover. Whether you want to upgrade a treasured car, a daily driver or a work van, we will recommend the right combination for your vehicle and budget.
Call us on 07395328717 or book a security assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Which cars are at risk from keyless theft? Any vehicle with passive keyless entry or push-button start is a potential target — and that now includes a large share of ordinary family cars and vans, not just prestige models.
Do Faraday pouches really work? A good-quality pouch blocks your fob’s signal effectively, but quality varies, so always test it. Treat it as your first layer, not your only one.
Will a Ghost immobiliser stop my car being stolen? A Ghost immobiliser prevents the engine starting without your unique PIN, even if a thief has your key or uses a relay attack. No system is completely theft-proof, but combined with a tracker and a physical lock, it is one of the strongest deterrents available.
Does a tracker lower my insurance? Many insurers recognise Thatcham-accredited trackers and TASSA-approved immobilisers and may offer a discount. Check with your insurer, as policies differ.