‘Car signal jammers, to be outlawed’ (source), are said to be used in:
- 4 in 10 car thefts nationwide and
- 6 in 10 in London
- Keyless repeaters and signal amplifiers enable criminals to unlock cars and are the most common means utilised to commit theft from or theft of a vehicle
The source of this information is understood to be the 2022/23 Crime Survey for England and Wale – read more here. This therefore appears to be a victim’s perspective/assumption. What of police data?
- more recently, it is reported obtaining of keys to take a vehicle is on the increase
- but despite being aware better information was required (knowledge is power), constabularies appear unaware of the extent of jammer/keyless taking activity
Those constabularies approached for information to support statements about the preponderance of jamming/keyless taking have responded that theft methodology is ‘not held in a readily retrievable format‘ – a manual review of each crime report would be required and this has not been undertake ergo, a Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) request for the data engages the s12 exemption – locating the information would exceed the cost limit of the FOIA namely £450 (18 hours @ £25/hr).
Examples of the responses received can be found here.
Is ‘keyless’ taking just a readily acceptable excuse that suits victim and constabulary?