A new, sophisticated - and silent - way to steal 'keyless' cars in just 60 seconds is fuelling a huge rise in thefts in Greater Manchester.

The method involves using two relatively-cheap devices to 'trick' a vehicle into thinking its entry fob is nearby.

It is suspected of contributing to a 44 per cent increase in car theft in the region in recent years - twice the national average.

Criminals use the new high-tech 'hack' to break into vehicles without even touching them.

Manufacturers are tweaking their technology, but it's a game of cat and mouse.

Police are warning drivers to be aware of the worrying trend, and say one of the best ways drivers can protect their vehicles is by using an old fashioned crook lock.

'Transmitter relay' attacks target cars with keyless entry systems.

The technology was once the preserve of high-end motors, but more affordable family cars now have automatic fob systems, which allow drivers to open and start their vehicles without even touching a button.

Thieves, often linked to organised crime, first buy a relay amplifier and transmitter, which are easily available on the internet, often for a couple of hundred pounds.

One criminal then stands by the car with the transmitter, while a second waves the amplifier near the house the car is parked outside.

If the car's fob is close enough, the amplifier will detect its signal - through doors, walls and windows - amplify it, and send it to the accomplice's transmitter.

The transmitter then effectively becomes the key, 'tricking' the car into thinking the real key is nearby.

The thieves are able to open the car, push the start button and drive away. Vehicles can be taken in under a minute one minute.

Keyless entry cars allow drivers to open and start the vehicle without touching their fob - or even removing it from their pocket.

Tests by the ADAC - the German equivalent of the AA - 'tricked' keyless sensor technology into thinking the owner was nearby with a fob. Vehicles from nearly 30 manufacturers were unlocked. Dozens of models were 'hacked'.

Officers working on GMP's Irlam and Cadishead patch have warned drivers to take care as cases of car theft continue to rocket.

Police figures show that between October 2015 and September 2016, 4,572 vehicles were stolen in Greater Manchester. The figure for the same period in 2016/17 was 6,564.

Oldham has become a hotspot for car theft in the last year, with thefts increasing from 321 in 2015/16 to 544 in 2016/17.

Manchester cases went up from 1,100 to 1,703; Salford from 539 to 803; and Trafford from 243 to 361.

A post on the GMP Irlam and Cadishead Facebook page read: "There have been a few keyless thefts recently. Thieves are able to do this with a keyless remote which contains a short-range radio transmitter and must be within a certain range - usually five to 20 meters of the car - to work.

"Thieves are able to use these gadgets and can detect whether the car features keyless entry and go.

"The whole process can take as little as 60 seconds and can be completed in near silence."

A surveillance video shared by West Midlands Police shows how car-hacking thieves stole a Mercedes parked on the driveway of a home within a few seconds - without keys and without even touching the vehicle with devices.

Latest figures, released by 40 police forces following Freedom of Information requests by RAC, showed 85,688 vehicles were stolen in 2016 in the UK – up 30pc from 65,783 in 2013.

Richard Billyeald, chief technical officer at Thatcham Research, experts in vehicle safety and security, said: "Keyless entry systems on cars offer convenience to drivers, but can in some situations be exploited by criminals.

"Concerned drivers should contact their dealer for information and guidance, and follow our simple security steps.

"We are working closely with the police and vehicle manufacturers to address this vulnerability, continuing our approach that has driven vehicle crime down 80pc from its peak in 1992."

Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for comment.

These are the models of cars that were unlocked during testing in Germany

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Audi A3, A4, A4 Avant, A5, A6, A6 All Road, R8, SQ7, TTS

BMW 225xe, 318i, 318d, 520d, 640d, 730d, 740, 740d, i3, i3 94 Ah (7/2016), i3 94 Ah (5/2016), X1, X1 SDrive 18d

Citroen DS4 CrossBack, C3 Pure Tech, C4 Picasso, C4 Picasso HDI, Spacetourer

Fiat 124 Spider

Ford Eco-Sport, Edge, Focus RS, Galaxy, Mustang, S-Max

Honda HR-V

Hyundai i10, i30, i30 1.4 T-GDI, iX35 Fuel Cell, i40, Santa Fe, Infinity Q30

Jaguar F-Pace

Kia Niro Hybrid, Optima (11/2015), Optima (8/2016), Optima Plugin-Hybrid

Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover Evoque

Lexus RX 450h

Mazda 3 Skyactive, CX-5

Mercedes E 220d, E 220d T-Modell

The Suzuki SX4 S-Cross is one of the cars that could be unlocked in the German tests

Mini Clubman, Cooper S Cabrio

Mitubishi Outlander (5/2016), Outlander (12/2016), Space Star

Nissan Leaf, Navara, Qashqia, Qashqia+2

Opel Ampera, Astra

Peugeot 508 W, 3008

Renault Captur, Clio, Kadjar, Megane, Magane Grandtour, Scenic, Talisman, Talisman Grandtour, Traffic, Seat Ateca, Skoda Kodiaq, Octavia (12/2105), Octavia (2/2016), Superb 1,6TDi

Ssangtyong Tivoli XDi

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross, Baleno, Vitara

Subaru Levorg

Tesla Model S P85

Toyota C-HR 1.8 Hybrid, Mirai, Prius, Prius 1.8 Hybrid, RAV4, Verso

Volvo V40, S90, S90 D5, V90 D5, XC90 T8

Volskwagen Golf 7 TSI, Golf 7 GTD (10/2013), Golf 7 GTD (12/2016), Passat GTE, Tiguan (3/2016), Tiguan (7/2016), Touran 5T

What you can do to stop the thieves

There are a few simple measures drivers can take. And unlike criminals' ever-more sophisticated methods, they're relatively simple.

People with keyless cars are urged to use old fashioned crook locks for steering wheels or gear sticks; install a driveway parking post; or use a wheel clamp.

Car dealerships may also be able to upgrade a car's technology to help foil criminals - and fobs can be deactivated at night in some cases.

Richard Billyeald, chief technical officer at Thatcham Research, recommended drivers:

  • Contact their dealer and talk about their car's digital features in your car and possible software updates.
  • Check if entry fobs can be turned off - and do so at night if possible.
  • Store keys and fobs away from doors and windows. Keeping your keyless entry fob out of sight is not enough – thieves only need to be near it to amplify its signal.
  • Store fobs in a Faraday container or metal tin, but test it is effective in blocking the signal.

Try storing your fob in a metal tin

The increase in reported car thefts from 2015 to 2017

Bolton 457 to 705

Bury 313 to 350

Manchester 941 to 1,703

Oldham 354 to 544

Rochdale 395 to 590

Salford 470 to 803

Stockport 285 to 452

Tameside 342 to 527

Trafford 204 to 361

Wigan 389 to 529

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