OFFICIERS are appealing for information and offering crime prevention advice following a spate of six keyless car thefts in Hart.
At some time between 11.30pm on Monday 18 October and 7am on Tuesday 19 October, a black BMW 320d SE was stolen from outside a property on West Green Road in Hartley Wintney.
Overnight between Tuesday 12 October and Wednesday 13 October, officers received reports of three car thefts near Great Sheldon’s Coppice in Hook.
A white BMW 520d M Sport, a red Mercedes GLC 250 and a black Mercedes GLE 250 AMG were all reported stolen.
The two other incidents took place in Fleet during the early hours of Wednesday 6 October.
During each incident, the offenders targeted high-performance vehicles and appear to have started these remotely via a relay device, which connects with the vehicle’s fob.
At this time, police are appealing for witnesses to these offences. They are keen to speak with anyone who may have heard or seen anything out of the ordinary overnight during the times mentioned.
Hart District Neighbourhood Sergeant Martyn Evans said: “In each of these cases the vehicles have been stolen without the use of keys.
Offenders are using increasingly sophisticated tools to steal cars with keyless entry by tricking the system into thinking the key is nearby. They do not need to gain access to your home to take the keys.
Were you in the area at the time? Do you have CCTV or dash cam footage that could help? I am urging anyone with any information about these incidents to get in touch with us.
We also have some simple crime prevention advice that can help people protect their property.
The offending seems to be taking place along the A30 corridor, so I would advise people who live in this area, including Fleet, Hook and Basingstoke, to have a look at the following advice.
Keep keys out of sight from doors and windows. Consider the use of a Faraday pouch to ensure any connection between your keys and vehicle is severed and cannot be interfered with.
Ensure your vehicle is locked and secure whenever unattended. Use Sold Secure approved products such as steering wheel, pedal or gear locks to deter offenders. Park in a garage if you have one. If parking on your driveway, consider fitting outdoor motion detector lighting and CCTV. Where a Faraday pouch is not an option, store your keys as far away from your vehicle as you can within your property.
If you notice any suspicious activity, you can report this via the non-emergency number, 101. You can also report incidents online via our website, www.hampshire.police.uk.”
