Owners of modern keyless vehicles have been issued an urgent warning with road users at risk of having their car stolen in less than 60 seconds. According to specialists at Leasing Options, keyless vans are one of the most affected with crime rates soaring in recent years.

Since the turn of the decade, van theft has become a major issue with over 12,000 vans stolen in the UK every year. Top experts have now warned that keyless car theft is still on the rise with criminals using handy gadgets such as relay devices to get access to vehicles. Mike Thompson from motoring experts at Leasing Options, warned cars may be stolen in a “matter of seconds”, making it impossible for owners to stop them. 

He said: “When criminals are trying to steal a keyless van, they use sophisticated technology, which involves manipulating short-range radio waves, to transmit a signal from your key to the technology in your car. 

“This can be done in a matter of seconds and means criminals can open your car door as normal, allowing them to enter and start the vehicle as normal.

“It is worth noting that sometimes this can fail, if there is no signal or if it is blocked for whatever reason, criminals can find a hard time entering. 

“Depending on the car make and model, the car might also require a physical key to be inserted into the ignition to start it.”

Meanwhile, installing extra security features such as steering wheel locks, tracking devices and bollards outside their driveway can also deter possible criminals. 

Mike added: “As technology has continued to evolve in vehicles, keyless theft is now one of the biggest risks to car owners. 

“Despite this there are practical steps drivers can take to reduce their risk. While the idea of keyless van theft might find scary, very few people in the country do have their cars stolen and the police are taking more precautions to prevent it.”