Steering wheel locks are flying off the shelves amid rise in thieves targeting modern, keyless cars

Steering wheel locks are flying off the shelves amid a rise in thieves targeting modern keyless cars

• Car retailer Halfords saw sales of safety devices increase by 23%
• Wireless remotes allow drivers to unlock cars and start them with the push of a button
• But criminals can hack them with devices that copy the signal and trick the vehicle

By mail from the Sunday reporter

Published: 01:54 GMT, 5 February 2023 | Update: 07:53 GMT, February 6, 2023

Steering wheel lock sales are on the rise as drivers try to stop thieves from targeting their keyless modern cars.

Car retailer Halfords saw sales of safety devices increase by 23% compared to last year.

Wireless remotes allow drivers to unlock cars and start them with the press of a button, but crooks can hack them with two devices that copy the signal and trick the vehicle.

This type of “signal tampering” accounts for 36% of vehicle burglaries, according to Home Office figures, a 13% increase on last year.

Dave Howells of Halfords said: ‘Old fashioned steering locks are a great no-frills security solution.

Steering wheel lock sales rise as drivers try to stop thieves from targeting keyless cars

Car retailer Halfords says sales of steering wheel locks have increased by 23% over the past year

“Often the mere presence of a steering lock on a vehicle has a deterrent effect.”

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