The PSNI has issued a warning following a spate of keyless car thefts across Northern Ireland, in which criminals have stolen cars by redirecting wireless signals from key fobs.
Detectives believe that due to the repeated pattern of offending, that this activity could be the work of an organised crime group.
Over the last 11 months, 35 cars have been stolen throughout NI using this new technology.
Detective Inspector Bell is urging vehicle owners to be vigilant, especially those with keyless entry cars.
“They only need to be within a few metres of your car key to get the signal, even if it’s inside your home.
“We are urging the public to be vigilant, especially those with keyless entry cars. The cars these thieves target are usually extremely expensive, so the loss is great.
We are actively looking for these criminals and cracking down on these crimes. As part of this, we are arming the public with the knowledge of how they can out-smart them by taking some precautions to protect their property.”
The PSNI will be issuing crime prevention advice across its social media channels and officers in local districts will be visiting car dealerships, car washes and supermarkets to share advice and support about the issue in the coming weeks.