Keyless car theft, or a relay attack, is when thieves use radio equipment to pick up the signal from your car key inside your house and pass it to your car, so the car unlocks and starts as if you were standing next to it. No broken glass, no noise, and often under a minute. Here is how it works, which cars are most at risk, and seven practical ways to stop it.
How a relay attack works
Keyless entry cars unlock when the key is close by. The car sends out a short range signal and the key answers. Thieves extend that range.
- One thief stands near your front door or window with a device that picks up the signal from your key inside.
- That signal is relayed to a second device held next to the car.
- The car thinks the key is beside it, so it unlocks. Press the start button and the engine runs.
Insurer Ageas describes the same method: thieves work in pairs and target cars parked near the owner's home, because that is where the key is (Ageas). Keys that need a button press to unlock are not vulnerable to this method.
How common is it?
UK police and insurers report keyless theft as one of the main ways cars are stolen today. Of the most stolen models in DVLA figures for 2025, several are popular keyless cars, including the Toyota RAV4, Toyota C-HR, Lexus NX and Range Rover Evoque (What Car?). See the full list in the most stolen cars in the UK.
A related method is OBD key programming, where thieves get into the car and plug a device into the diagnostic port to program a new key. Both methods beat the car's electronics. Neither does anything to a mechanical lock.
7 ways to stop keyless car theft
1. Block the key's signal at home
Keep the key in a signal-blocking case (a Faraday pouch or box) when you are home. Lancashire Police advise keeping fobs in a Faraday wallet. Test it: put the key inside, stand next to the car and try the door. If it opens, the case is not working.
2. Keep keys away from doors and windows
The further the key is from the outside wall, the harder it is to reach. Never leave keys in a bowl by the front door. This includes the spare key.
3. Fit a visible steering lock
If a thief does get the car open and started, a mechanical lock on the wheel still stops it being driven away, and a lock they can see often means they never try. UK police forces still describe steering locks as a good deterrent. Read do steering wheel locks work for the evidence.
4. Turn off keyless entry if your car allows it
Many cars let you disable keyless entry in the settings or with a button sequence on the key. Check your handbook. Some newer keys also go to sleep when they stop moving, which protects them while they sit still overnight.
5. Keep the car's software up to date
Manufacturers have issued security updates for some models. Ask your dealer whether one applies to your car.
6. Park smart
Light, cameras and being in view of the house all help. On a drive, park so the car is hard to get out quickly, and if you have two cars, block the more valuable one in.
7. Consider an OBD port lock or a tracker
An OBD lock makes key programming slower. A tracker does not stop the theft but improves the chance of getting the car back. Both are worth asking about if you drive a model that appears on the most stolen lists.
The two-layer setup we recommend
If you only do two things, do these: block the key signal at home, and put a lock on the wheel every time you park. The first stops the attack. The second stops the car leaving if the first one fails, and puts many thieves off before they start.
We make both:
- Safety Vault key case: a signal-blocking case for your key at home.
- Steering Wheel Lock: a 5 mm steel cable that loops round the wheel and clicks into the seatbelt buckle in about three seconds, so it actually gets used.
Common questions
Can thieves steal a keyless car without the key?
Yes. In a relay attack they never touch the key. They borrow its signal from inside your house.
Does wrapping a key in foil work?
Sometimes, but it is unreliable because small gaps let the signal through. A proper signal-blocking case is cheap and easier to use every night. Test whatever you use against your own car.
Do signal-blocking pouches wear out?
Fabric pouches can wear at the seams and stop working. Test yours every few months by trying the car door with the key inside.
Are push-button start cars more likely to be stolen?
Cars with keyless entry and start can be stolen by relay without the key, which older key cars cannot. Several of the most stolen UK models in 2025 are keyless.
Does a steering lock stop keyless theft?
It does not stop the relay attack itself, but it stops the car being driven away afterwards, and a visible lock often stops the attempt.