Shocking moment thieves use keyless hack to steal £51,000 Mercedes in just 20 seconds
BRAZEN thieves have been caught on camera using a keyless hack to steal a £51,000 Mercedes in less than a minute.
Ring doorbell footage shows three thieves, clad in puffer jackets, leather gloves, and balaclavas, arriving at a home in Harrow, north west London around 3:30am on December 10.
Two Mercedes GLC sedans - one white and one black - were parked on the driveway of the home.
In the grainy footage, one of the burglars can be seen holding his hand up to the ring doorbell camera in an apparent attempt to conceal his identity.
His two accomplices then approach the black Mercedes, appearing to use a metal antenna to hack the car's keyless entry signal.
One of the men then opens the driver's side door before returning to the doorbell camera.
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The Sun has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.
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.
Keyless car theft involves criminals - sometimes working in teams - using a gadgets that pretend to be a car’s key, in order to gain access and even start the car.
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. Unlike your own fob, the thief’s hardware opens 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.
Keyless car theft is on the rise with police forces all over the country reporting instances of this type of crime.
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Car manufacturers are working to redesign the security systems in their cars in order to address the changing trends in car crime.
But there are things that motorists can try in order to protect their cars against criminals.
The first and most obvious is what experts call “multi-layered security," meaning old-fashioned physical protection like steering wheel locks and wheel clamps.
Someone who gains access to a car will not be able to drive it away if the steering wheel is locked - even if they manage to start the engine.
Drivers can prevent a relay attack from happening in the first place by being careful with their car key.
Keeping it away from windows and doors can make it harder for criminals to amplify its signal if they’re outside a home.
Placing car keys in a metal box or Faraday cage - a special signal-blocking structure that can protect credit cards, keys and gadgets from prying high-tech criminals - makes it even less likely that thieves will connect to the car key.
Keeping your key fob in a Faraday cage, also known as a Faraday sleeve, while you’re at work or home should ensure your car's security from would-be thieves.
