A FORMER police officer has revealed four ways drivers can identify a stolen motor.
Car thefts hit an all-time high in the UK in 2023 with 64,087 motors reported stolen to the DVLA – which is one every eight minutes.
GettyCar owners have been urged to be extra cautious with their motor with thefts seemingly on the rise[/caption]
GettyMost concerning of all is “keyless” car theft – which uses a special gadget to gain access to a motor in seconds[/caption]
NextbaseA former road traffic officer has revealed the telltale signs a motor has been stolen[/caption]
Motorists have been urged to be on the lookout for crooks and take plenty of precautions as thieves embrace “keyless” methods.
Ben Pearson, a Nextbase advisor and former road traffic officer, has revealed four ways to tell if a car has been stolen – including a telltale sign of keyless car theft which could be as simple as a suspiciously basic set of keys.
He added: “High-end models generally come with key fobs or advanced keys.
“If you see a high-end vehicle being operated with a basic key, it may be worth a second glance.”
When buying a car, it’s also worth looking for signs damage in two key spots.
Ben said: “While relay theft allows drivers to get into cars without damaging them at all, other types of keyless car theft involve going in through the lights or the boot.
“So keep an eye out for little bits of damage to the boot or any of the lights.
“It’s also important to note that if you are the owner of specific, high-end car models then you are in greater danger of being subject to car theft.”
What is keyless car theft?
Many modern cars have key fobs that allow you to open the car remotely and start the engine without turning a key in the ignition.
If you have the key in your pocket, you can walk up to the car, get in and drive off without touching the key, or turning any old-fashioned locks.
Keyless car theft involves criminals – sometimes working in teams – using a gadgets that pretend to be your car’s key, in order to gain access and even start the car.
It’s like using a skeleton key, which unlike your own fob, can open more than just one vehicle.
With these special computers in their pocket, even the most low-tech criminal can gain access to the latest cars – often worth over £100,000.
It’s easier and quicker than using a coat hanger to steal an old Ford Escort – and more lucrative too.
Aside from keyless thefts, crooks have devised other smart ways of avoiding capture – which includes tampering with license plates.
Ben added: “Sometimes thieves will replace the license plates of a stolen car with those from another vehicle.
“Be wary of cars with license plates that look tampered with, don’t match the vehicle type, or are from a far-off location.”
That’s also the case for an overuse of window covers, which may be hiding something inside.
Ben said: “Car thieves may use window covers or sunshades in all windows to prevent onlookers from seeing inside the vehicle, which might be used to hide the car’s contents or illegal activities.”
This comes as drivers learned of five little-known ways they could be damaging their car – including a keyring mistake that can cause a major engine fault.
Elsewhere, car experts have revealed how to prevent pothole damage and save £100s in repairs.