OWNERS of keyless cars are being urged to be careful after two Range Rovers were stolen on one night. 

Wiltshire police said both cars were keyless and were stolen by way of relay thefts – a form of keyless car theft where the signal from a key for a so-called “keyless entry” car is captured by somebody standing outside the victim’s house using a device.

The cars were taken from outside homes in Salisbury on the night of Sunday, April 16.

The vehicles were found on Monday, April 17 by police officers working jointly with colleagues in Hampshire. 

Authorities are in the process of returning them to their owners.

The thefts follow similar crimes in Hampshire earlier this month, which have seen Range Rovers, a Mercedes, a truck and a doggy day care van all stolen within the same night from addresses around Romsey, as well as a landscaping business van from Whitenap just a week before.

READ MORE: Range Rover stolen in the middle of the night from driveway

The police are now encouraging keyless car owners to put the key card or fob in a Faraday case/pouch – a special bag with a metal lining – to block any transmissions, and to use a steering lock where possible – an ‘old school’ security measure that is also a visual deterrent to would-be thieves.

Wiltshire Police also provided the following additional tips to prevent vehicle theft:

  • Keep your vehicle locked, windows shut and your keys secure.
  • Park the vehicle in a locked garage where possible.
  • Where possible, park in a well-lit area and in clear view of your property and any CCTV cameras.
  • Do not leave any valuables such as wallets, phones, Sat Navs etc on display.
  • Mark the items of property/tools that are stored in the vehicle using an artificial DNA property marker such as Smartwater or SelectaDNA.
  • If you have a second, non-keyless vehicle, park that behind the high-value one.
  • Check with your car dealership as they can offer advice and the manufacturer/dealer can often track the vehicle if it is stolen.
  • If the vehicle is a company car, check with your fleet managers who can offer crime prevention and tracking advice.

People are encouraged to call 999 immediately if they see a crime in progress or any suspicious activity around vehicles. Note the registration numbers of vehicles and descriptions of those involved.