If you've got a modern car with keyless entry, pay attention. I see the aftermath of this regularly, and it's catching drivers across Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Gateshead completely off guard.
Car thieves don't need your keys anymore. They've got cheap devices that grab the signal straight through your front door. In some cases they're in and gone in under a minute, before a neighbour even looks up.
This isn't scaremongering. In the year ending March 2025, around 130,000 vehicles were stolen across England and Wales, roughly one every three minutes. Here's the stat that should make anyone with a keyless car sit up: 58% of those thefts involved criminals electronically bypassing the vehicle's security. Back in 2019, that figure was 14%. It's gone from a niche trick to the main way cars get nicked in this country.
County Durham alone had 330 vehicles stolen in 2023 to 2024. Vehicle theft is up 21% nationally. No part of the North East is sitting this one out.
How relay theft actually works
It sounds technical. It isn't.
Your keyless car constantly broadcasts a low level signal, waiting for the fob to respond. When the fob gets close enough, usually a metre or two, the car recognises it and unlocks. That's the whole system.
Thieves exploit that.
Two of them work together. One stands near your front door with a relay amplifier. The other is by your car on the driveway. The amplifier picks up your key fob's signal from inside the house, through walls, no problem, and beams it to the device next to the car. Your car thinks the key is right there. Unlocks. Engine starts. They're gone.
Less than 60 seconds. No smashed window, no forced entry, no alarm. Just a car that was on your drive when you went to bed and isn't there in the morning.
Vehicles that get hit a lot in the UK: Ford Fiesta, Toyota C HR, Range Rover, BMW 3 Series, Kia Niro EV, Hyundai Ioniq 5. All common on North East driveways.
Which areas in the North East are affected
Everywhere, honestly. I've had calls from Darlington and Stockton in the south, Durham city, Sunderland, Washington, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Chester le Street, Whitley Bay and the Metrocentre car park.
Thieves don't need much. A quiet street, two minutes, and a fob within range is enough. Areas close to the A1(M) and A19 tend to see more of it. Quick access to main roads makes the getaway easier, which is why those streets near major routes pop up more often in police reports.
What you can actually do about it tonight
None of this is expensive. Most of it takes minutes.
Get a Faraday pouch
Under £10 on Amazon. You put your key fob in it, the signal is completely blocked and no amplifier can pick it up. I know it sounds too simple, but it works. Keep your keys in it overnight and whenever the car's parked up.
Move your keys away from the front door
This is where most people come unstuck. Keys on a hook in the hall, on a table near the door, the signal travels through walls easily. Chuck them in a drawer somewhere in the middle of the house, or better still, in the pouch.
Fit a steering wheel lock
Old school, I know. But if a thief gets the car started and sees one on the wheel, a lot of them will walk away. It's extra time, extra noise, extra risk. They'll find an easier target.
Look into an OBD port lock
The OBD port under your dashboard can be used by thieves with the right kit to program a blank key and bypass your immobiliser entirely. An OBD lock blocks physical access to it. Fits in minutes, worth doing especially on anything higher value.
Think about a GPS tracker
Won't stop a theft, but stolen cars with active trackers get found a lot faster. Several forces across the North East work directly with tracker providers.
If your car has already been taken
Call 999 straight away if it's just happened, there's a real chance of catching them. After that, report to Durham Constabulary or Northumbria Police, get a crime reference number as you'll need it for insurance, call your insurer, and check if your manufacturer has a tracking app. BMW, Land Rover and a few others have them.
If the car comes back but the key's been cloned or the system tampered with, all existing keys need wiping from the immobiliser and new ones programming in. A dealer will sort it, but you'll wait days and pay their rates. I can usually get to you the same day and do the whole job at your location through my replacement keys and all keys lost service.
What I do after a relay theft
When a vehicle comes back after being taken, or if you think your key's been compromised, here's what needs doing. Delete all keys from the immobiliser, cut and program fresh ones, and if the OBD port was used, run a full security reset on the system.
I'm SERMI registered, which means I'm legally authorised to access the security data needed to program keys for newer vehicles. A lot of locksmiths aren't. I cover Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Stockton, Darlington and everywhere in between, and I bring all the diagnostic kit to you.
Sort it before it happens to you
A Faraday pouch costs less than a takeaway. Moving your keys away from the front door takes 30 seconds. Losing a car, the excess, the insurance back and forth, weeks without transport, is a different scale entirely.
If you've been hit by relay theft or just want your vehicle's security looked over, give me a ring on 07464 070776. I'm available 24/7 across the North East and I'll give you a straight answer and a fixed price before I touch anything.