Warning to 'keyless entry' car owners

We've seen a spate of 'keyless entry' car thefts over the last 48 hours including two Land Rovers and a Range Rover stolen from properties along the A63 corridor from Selby to the village of Hambleton.

The investigations into these thefts are ongoing.

If you own a keyless entry car of any make, we urge you to follow our advice below:

'Keyless entry' cars unlock automatically when the key comes within a short distance of the vehicle.

This can be from inside a pocket or bag. (If you have to push a button on your car key to open your car, you don't have keyless entry).

Keyless car theft, also known as 'relay theft', is when criminals use a device to fool the car into thinking the key is close by. This unlocks the car and starts the ignition.

Thieves only need to be within a few metres of your car key to capture the signal, even if it’s inside your home. This means that even if your car and home are secure, thieves can still unlock, start and steal your car.

Please take these simple steps to protect your vehicle, even when it's parked at home:

Keep your car key (and the spare) well away from the car itself - and put them in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag or box.

If you buy a second-hand car, consider reprogramming the keys.

And, if possible, turn off the wireless signal on your fob when it's not being used.