Tracker’s latest Vehicle Crime Index (VCI), covering the period January to June, reveals that vehicle theft is up 7% in South Africa, with hijackings up 4%, over the same six months last year.

The increase can be partly attributed to increased vehicle use after the worst of Covid-19, but also a new modus operandi on the part of criminals and crime syndicates, such as keyless-access theft.

“While technology can provide convenience by allowing you to access your car without having to search for your keys, keyless-access theft also highlights how criminals are turning to tech to make car theft easier,” says Tracker COO Duma Ngcobo.

Keyless-access theft involves a team of criminals, one of whom could follow a newer model vehicle owner as he or she walk away from a locked vehicle.

Using a relay amplifier, the criminals can amplify the constantly transmitted signal received from the vehicle’s key fob to their counterpart’s relay transmitter.

This counterpart can then gain access to the vehicle by means of the transmitter and drive away with it.

How to Mitigate Keyless-Access Theft
There are steps that can be taken to try to avoid becoming a victim, says Tracker.

For example, should you have a keyless-access vehicle, invest in a secure Faraday pouch (also known as a fob guard) to store your key.

Lined with layers of metallic material, this pouch helps block key fob signals, thereby preventing criminals from intercepting the signal.

Also, if the front of your home (and thus, the garage), or your vehicle itself, are easily accessible, for instance in high-density or cluster-style living environments, try to store your key fob as far away from the access point and your car’s location as possible, to minimise the possibility of amplifying the key fob signal.

If your car does not park securely behind a locked gate or in a garage when at home, what you can also do is to try to park a car requiring a key behind your keyless car to ensure it cannot be driven away without increased effort.

You could also consider deactivating the keyless entry function.

Another mitigation measure is to ensure your doors are locked before walking away from your parked car.

For cars requiring key entry, always double-check by lifting the handle once you have locked the doors, as remote jamming continues to gain popularity.

Thinking old school may also be a solution: use a steering wheel lock.

You can also install an immobiliser, suggests Tracker. While many cars have factory fitted immobilisers, there is merit in having an additional system on your vehicle.

Installing CCTV to watch over your car when parked in your driveway may also act as a deterrent, as may adding a motion detector light.

“As criminals and syndicates vary their methods and increasingly use technology to gain access to cars, Tracker encourages all South Africans to adopt proactive behaviours that could help mitigate vehicle theft,” says Ngcobo.