THIS is the moment thieves used a special device to steal a plush Mercedes from an owner’s driveway in the dead of night.
Footage from West Midlands Police showed how crooks needed just over 60 seconds from the moment they set foot on the property to gain access to the pricey vehicle, before driving it away.
This type of theft has become worryingly commonplace in recent years.
As is often the case, CCTV or Ring doorbell footage shows how crooks are able to pull up outside a house and use a type of relay equipment to unlock the car and start its ignition.
Naturally, failing that, thieves can use a common method of hotwiring to make the ignition system work.
In this instance, the two thieves exit their own vehicle and walk up to the parked Merc.
Both dressed in hoodies, one shines a torch into the inside of the car to check the interior, while the other walks closer to the front of the house with the device – presumably to pick up the signal of the owner’s key fob.
The signal then relays to the car, opening it as if they were simply using the original fob.
Thieves only need to be within a few metres of the car keys to capture the signal – even if the keys are inside a house.
HERE are some ways to protect your vehicle from relay theft:
Source: West Midlands Police
There are plenty of other examples of thieves using this ever-popular method to steal cars.
Recently, a BMW was stolen from a driveway in just five seconds as the crooks “tricked” the luxury vehicle into unlocking in Barnsley, Yorkshire.
In north and east London, a gang nicked 170 top-end motors worth £2million over a four-year spell using a keyless device disguised as a Game Boy – including one motor with a toddler still inside.
In September, Sun Motors showed off a “ghost” device that was able to stop two car thieves in their tracks.
The owner was saved a £30,000 claim and insurance premium hikes thanks to the ingenious gadget.
Security camera footage posted on YouTube shows a gang of masked yobs approaching a luxury SUV while it’s parked up on a residential road.
Similar to above, they are able to gain access to the motor and attempt to drive it away.
However, this is when the motor’s “ghost” immobiliser sprang into action.
The gadget, which can be bought and installed for a few hundred pounds aftermarket, is wired into the ignition and activates each time the car is switched on.
It can only be deactivated by a pre-loaded sequence of dashboard or steering wheel buttons determined by the owner, similar to a PIN code.
If this isn’t entered, the tech will force the engine to cut out as soon as you press the accelerator.
