Thieves using car key jammers target 26 Rotherham vehicles

Car crooks used hand-held electronics to block radio signals sent by drivers’ key fobs. They then waited for them to walk away, entered the unlocked cars and took valuables.

Now police are urging car-owners to check that their doors are locked by tugging a handle, after clicking the fob.

Insp Caroline Bakewell said: “We’ve seen a recent spike in thefts from vehicles which show no signs of entry, where the driver clearly recalls locking their doors and are confident they can be attributed to thieves blocking their signals remotely.

“Drivers are pressing their key fob and walking away from their vehicle thinking they’ve locked it, but they are having their frequency blocked by thieves.

“The only sure way to know your car is locked is to check it manually.

“If your indicator lights flash, wing mirrors fold in, or the horn beeps when you lock it, this is a sure sign your vehicle has locked, but the failsafe method is to give your door handle a little tug before you walk away.”

Basic jamming devices can have a range of 75 metres and affect a whole car park when activated.

Insp Bakewell added: “We have received 26 reports of thefts of this nature in the Rotherham district since February and are eager to bring this issue and the associated crime prevention advice to the attention of motorists.

“Please circulate this message to your friends on social media, so they can protect their vehicles.”

The issue of key jamming affects forces nationally and has previously been highlighted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

In January, two Sheffield men aged 22 and 24 were arrested on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle at Woodall Services on the M1 in January. The men were released under investigation.