Electronic devices used in car thefts to be banned
Complex electronic devices used by criminals to steal cars will be prohibited under new laws in England and Wales.
Last year, more than 700,000 cars were broken – usually with the help of high-tech electronics, including so-called signal jammers, were believed to have played a role in 4 of the 10 car thefts nationwide.
So far, police officers can only prosecute if they prove that the device has been used to commit a specific crime, but under the new laws of the Crime and Police Act, the responsibility will be for those who own a device to show that they own it. For legal purposes.
Making or selling a signal jammer can result in five years in prison or unlimited fines.
Keyless repeaters and signal amplifiers disrupt signals in the signals of remote keys in people’s homes, allowing criminals to unlock cars.
They are the most common method of stealing from a vehicle – or the vehicle itself.
“These thefts have had a devastating impact on the victims, and they need vehicles to go to their daily lives,” said Police Secretary Dame Diana Johnson.
According to a 2022/23 crime investigation against England and Wales, a criminal manipulated the signal of a remote lock device in 40% of thefts nationwide. In London, that number rose to about 60%.
Organized criminal groups have also driven a large percentage of vehicle thefts that have been constantly trying to overcome vehicle safety measures by leveraging the vulnerability of vehicles and new technologies.
Automakers must also step up efforts to make vehicles safer, the auto group said.
AA President Edmund King said: “This is a positive step, and these more difficult verdicts should allow possible thieves to think again before stealing the car. Relay theft and signals indicate interference is too frequent, these measures It will give police forces more opportunities, make more opportunities, make more opportunities, make them more opportunities, make them more opportunities to solve automobile crimes.”
The National Council of Chiefs of Police (NPCC) welcomed this.
Assistant Chief Police Officer Jenny Simms said the head of the crime said the property, manufacturing, sales and supply of signals provided criminals with an easy-to-use tool…for too long.
“These devices have no legal purpose beyond assisting criminal activities and reducing their availability will support policing and the industry to prevent damage to individuals and businesses from being harmed by vehicle theft,” she added.
The government’s flagship crime and policing bill will introduce parliament on Tuesday.
