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| Service station thieves 'using car key jammers' | Service station thieves 'using car key jammers' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thieves are using radio jammers to steal from cars parked at motorway service stations, police have warned. | Thieves are using radio jammers to steal from cars parked at motorway service stations, police have warned. |
| Thames Valley Police said the transmitters could be used to "interrupt" signals from remote keys, preventing vehicles from being locked properly. | Thames Valley Police said the transmitters could be used to "interrupt" signals from remote keys, preventing vehicles from being locked properly. |
| The force said 14 recent thefts from lorries, vans and cars with "no obvious sign of a break-in" had been reported. | The force said 14 recent thefts from lorries, vans and cars with "no obvious sign of a break-in" had been reported. |
| It advised motorists to check vehicles before leaving them unattended. | It advised motorists to check vehicles before leaving them unattended. |
| The thefts took place at Chieveley, Reading and Membury services on the M4 in Berkshire over the last two weeks of November. | The thefts took place at Chieveley, Reading and Membury services on the M4 in Berkshire over the last two weeks of November. |
| How do radio jammers work? | |
| Remote keys have a unique signal which is transmitted via radio waves from the fob to the car. Jammers overpower signals from the owner's key and interfere with this communication. | |
| The devices can be used over a large area, in theory allowing thieves to cover an entire car park. | |
| Would-be thieves rely on drivers pressing the lock button on their fob and forgetting to double-check whether the vehicle is secured - leaving it open and allowing easy entry. | |
| More modern vehicles which use keyless entry could also be vulnerable. | |
| Source: RAC | |
| Police have appealed for dashcam footage to help with their investigation. | Police have appealed for dashcam footage to help with their investigation. |
| Sgt Alan Hawkett, of Newbury Police, said members of the public visiting motorway services stations anywhere in the country should keep valuables in their possession when away from their vehicle. | Sgt Alan Hawkett, of Newbury Police, said members of the public visiting motorway services stations anywhere in the country should keep valuables in their possession when away from their vehicle. |