Keyless Car Security: How to Stop Relay Theft

How relay theft works

Your keyless fob constantly emits a short-range radio signal, waiting for the car to ask for it. Thieves work in pairs: one stands near your front door with a relay device that captures and amplifies the fob's signal, the other stands by the car with a transmitter. The car thinks the key is present, unlocks, and starts. The whole theft can take under 60 seconds — silently, with no broken glass.

It doesn't require hacking skill or expensive gear anymore; the equipment is widely available. If your car is keyless and your keys sit near the front door, you're exposed.

What actually stops relay attacks

Not all defences are equal. Here's what works, ranked by effectiveness:

• Faraday pouch or box — blocks the fob's signal completely; the single most effective step (test it: put the fob inside and try to open the car)
• Keep keys away from doors and windows — upstairs and to the rear of the house is best
• Steering wheel lock — a visible physical deterrent that makes thieves move on
• Aftermarket immobiliser or tracker — stops the car being driven away or aids recovery
• Disable keyless entry — many cars let you turn it off in the settings; check your manual
• Park defensively — in a garage, behind another vehicle, or in well-lit areas

What to do if your car is targeted

If your car is stolen, report it to the police immediately and notify your insurer — then call us. We can erase the stolen keys from the vehicle's memory and program fresh ones, so the thieves' relay equipment becomes useless against your car going forward.

If you find signs of an attempted theft (car unlocked in the morning, items disturbed), don't assume they failed and move on — have the keys checked and consider the protections above. And never confront thieves in progress; property is replaceable, you aren't.