Advice for Owners of Keyless Vehicles

Hertfordshire Police frequently receive reports from Hertfordshire residents whose “keyless” vehicles have been stolen. If your vehicle uses a vicinity key, please follow the below advice. What is a vicinity key? A vicinity key operates the vehicle to which it belongs using an automatic signal. You only have to be near to the vehicle for it to detect the key is present and unlock. The key (or signal) only has to be present to enable you to press a button to turn on the engine.

Keyless theft: how it works

This is where a vehicle is stolen without the thief having physical access to the key. Thieves use a signal boosting device which picks up and boosts the signal detected from your vicinity key to the vehicle, making your vehicle think the key is nearby. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pffcngJJq0

Protect Your Vehicle:

Keep vicinity keys in a signal blocking pouch which stops the signal from your key. You can source Police approved ‘Secured By Design’ signal blocking pouches via: http://www.securedbydesign.com/?post_type=product\u0026s=signal+blocker or on www.owlprotect.uk on this page https://owlprotect.uk/defender-signal-blocker-pouch-keyless-car-entry-start.html

Keep keys away from the front of your property; upstairs and hidden away is preferable. Check your Manual or with your Dealer if it is possible to switch the key’s signal off. For additional security, consider purchasing a steering wheel lock. If your vehicle has an alarm or immobiliser, ensure these are enabled. If your vehicle doesn’t have a Tracker, consider fitting one. A dual band tracking device works on VHF/UHF and GPS to ensure that one tracking system can still function if criminals use GPS blocking techniques to avoid detection. Purchase devices to ‘Thatcham’ and ‘SBD’ approval. Vehicles equipped with tracking devices are often promptly recovered. Check regularly for software updates for the car.

Police Contact Advice:

Telephone 999 in an emergency where there is a danger to life or a crime is in progress. Telephone 101 for non-emergencies where police attendance is required, to report a crime or to report any other incidents. Calls to 101 have a fixed cost of 15p per call. Alternatively, visit www.herts.police.uk/contact to report a non-emergency crime online or chat to a police operator live via our web chat service. If you are calling about the above, please tell us that you are responding to a message from OWL Neighbourhood Watch.

Detectives investigating a burglary in Sawbridgeworth are releasing CCTV images of three people they would like to speak to for help with their enquiries. The incident occurred at The Bull pub, in Cambridge Road, at around 12.30pm on Tuesday, February 12, when an unknown man was discovered in the upstairs residential area.

After being confronted, he attempted to make off in a vehicle with two other men. The vehicle broke down and the men fled on foot. It was then discovered that cash and a ring had been taken. Police would like to speak with the people pictured (see full article – https://www.herts.police.uk/news-and-appeals/burglary-in-sawbridgeworth-2576a) as they may have information which could assist enquiries.

Anyone who recognises them, or has information about the thefts, should contact Detective Constable Dieter Sweeting via email to dieter.sweeting@herts.pnn.police.uk or by calling the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference 41/12411/19. You can also report information online at www.herts.police.uk/Report.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. For over 30 years, Crimestoppers has always kept its promise of anonymity to everyone who contacts them.

Essex Police first mentioned about “Nottingham Knockers” in the area on 5th February. Members of the Sawbridgeworth Facebook page reported they had the same visits on Sheering Lower Road and Cambridge Road this evening, Friday 15th February. The police note that Nottingham Knockers are not part of any recognised rehabilitation scheme.

The Government-backed Community Payback scheme does NOT involve door-to-door sales.

They will try to sell you items, and the bag of household products is supplied by someone who employs them. The lads are supplied with a full bag of household products (including the typical tea-towels!) and charged a minimal sum for the contents – it used to be £35-50. They can keep whatever they make, above this amount.

Usually they are deposited in an area from a transit van and given a list of streets to work. An hour or so later they are picked up and dropped off in another location. They often work from 9am to 9pm.

They will knock on a door, offering cleaning items which they know are cheap and of very poor quality; the householder also knows they are rubbish but that is part of the scam.

Many people will purchase items and pay them something, just to get rid of them. There have been cases of elderly residents handing over large sums as these lads can be very persistent and confrontational.

This Is The Scam Part

The price for whatever has been purchased usually comes to a note – usually £10. The householder disappears to get this – this is when the scam begins, When the note is handed over, the lad examines the condition and how long it took the person to get it.

If it is crumpled, they accept it and move on. If it is crisp flat and new and likely to come from a pile of new notes – they are much more interested and may engage the person in more conversation, to obtain details about them.

As they leave they will smell the note. If it is slightly musty, as in stored in a cupboard or under a mattress – this is an indication that there is more in the property. Those addresses are “noted”. The addresses of elderly / vulnerable / gullible people are all noted.

It has been reported that occasionally “noted addresses” are sold in prisons or pubs and revisited later and the occupiers can find themselves the victims of burglaries.

Report Anything Suspicious

If you experience this or anything suspicious, please report it by calling the police on 101 (non-emergency line). Also please let us know about too by emailing help@leatclose.org.uk as we would like to warn all residents.

Yesterday, 12th February at 12.30pm, 3 males have entered a property at the top end of Cambridge Road and, using a distraction method, one male has entered the living quarters and taken some money. The males have then run out the back of the property, over a fence and run off. A vehicle left in the area has been recovered. If you saw or heard anything, please ring 101 ref HC-12022019-0410.

Police Contact Advice:

• Telephone 999 in an emergency where there is a danger to life or a crime is in progress.
• Telephone 101 for non-emergencies where police attendance is required, to report a crime or to report any other incidents. Calls to 101 have a fixed cost of 15p per call.
• Alternatively, visit www.herts.police.uk/contact to report a non-emergency crime online or chat to a police operator live via our web chat service.
  If you are calling about the above, please tell us that you are responding to a message from OWL.