Protecting Keyless-Entry Vehicles From Relay Theft

Vehicles with keyless entry and push-button start are vulnerable to relay theft, a technique in which two thieves use signal amplifiers to extend the range of the key fob inside a building, tricking the vehicle into believing the authorised key is present and allowing it to be unlocked and driven away without physical access to the key. In May 2026, a 34-year-old man parked his baby blue Kia Sportage at South Park shopping complex in San Fernando around 7:00 PM. The vehicle had keyless start, a GPS tracker, and identifying stickers. When he returned around 11:00 PM, the SUV was gone. By the following morning, it had been found stripped and abandoned off Cottage Road in Princes Town — stripped within hours of the theft despite the GPS tracker. Relay theft targets parking facilities attached to shopping centres, cinemas, gyms, and other venues where the vehicle’s owner will be absent for an extended period, giving thieves time to act and depart before the absence is noticed.

Steps to follow:

• Store your keyless fob in a Faraday pouch or metal container when it is not in use — this blocks the fob’s signal and prevents relay amplification; these pouches are widely available and cost under $50.
• If you do not have a Faraday pouch, place your key fob in the back of a drawer away from your front door or a metal tin at home; distance and metal barriers both reduce relay range.
• Fit a visible secondary deterrent to your keyless vehicle — a steering wheel lock or a brake/clutch pedal lock significantly slows thieves even if they access the vehicle electronically, and visible barriers often cause them to move on to an easier target.
• Do not rely solely on a factory GPS tracker for recovery; trackers are among the first components disabled or removed by organised theft rings — treat a GPS unit as evidence support, not a theft deterrent.
• Park near CCTV cameras in shopping centres and public facilities — camera coverage reduces the time thieves are willing to spend in the area and provides evidence for police recovery investigations.
• Report keyless vehicle theft to police with the exact make, model, colour, registration, and any identifying features including stickers or modifications; stripped vehicles are frequently found within 24 hours and the registration can still link back to the case.