Warning to drivers to be careful with keys – or risk them being broken for parts

A motoring influencer has warned drivers to be careful where they store their keys or risk their car being stolen.

@BladedAngel regularly posts informative videos to his YouTube page that help motorists to look after their cars.

In a recent video, @BladedAngel warned drivers of vehicles with keyless entry to think twice about where they keep their key fob.

He explained: “Do not store keys on walls closest to the exterior of your property, especially if you keep your car parked outside and not in a garage.

“Most keyless entry cars work by emitting a certain signal out of them, and this signal is a lot easier to mimic than you’d think.”

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@BladedAngel continued by explaining that many car thieves use relay boxes to extend the range of the signal, enabling them to unlock the vehicle.

To keep their car safe, motorists are advised to always store their keys in a small faraday pouch which blocks the signal.

If the vehicle has a second set of keys, it is also recommended that drivers store these in a secure location such as a locked safe.

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Later in the video, @BladedAngel explained how many stolen cars are broken up and sold for spare parts.

He added: “The reality is that most cars only need to drive a few miles to a chop shop, where they’re taken apart piece by piece and then have those parts be sold on the black market.

“Hardly any vehicles stolen these days are done with the intention of remaining in one piece, that’s too easy for the victim to recover it or for authorities to identify it.”

Another way in which drivers can help to prevent their car from being stolen for spare parts is by etching the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in certain places.

Since the VIN number is unique to each vehicle on the road, the parts can be traced back to the original car.

As a result, many thieves will be less inclined to steal a ‘marked’ car as less of a profit can be made from it.

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