Why a New Law Will Outlaw the Gadgets Behind Four in Ten UK Car Thefts

The electronic gadgets that thieves use to steal cars without the keys are finally being targeted by the law. A new Act creates offences covering the relay boxes, signal jammers and key emulators behind a large share of modern vehicle theft, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. For drivers, it is a welcome move against the organised gangs responsible for most thefts, but it will not change anything in your driveway overnight, so the steps you take to protect your own car still count.

Here is what the new law does, why it was needed, how these devices work, and the practical measures that will keep your car safer while the legislation takes effect.

What the new law does

The Crime and Policing Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, introduces two new offences aimed squarely at the tools of keyless theft. They criminalise possessing, importing, making, adapting, supplying or offering to supply an electronic device for use in the theft of a vehicle or of anything in a vehicle. The maximum penalty is five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. The definition of an electronic device is deliberately broad so that it covers new gadgets criminals may develop in future, rather than naming only the tools in use today.

The devices in the firing line include signal relay, repeater and amplifier units, signal jammers, so-called CAN injection tools that plug into a car’s wiring, and key-replicating emulators. The change that will worry criminal gangs most is the shift in the burden of proof. Until now, possessing one of these gadgets was not in itself illegal, and prosecutors had to prove an intention to steal under offences such as going equipped under the Theft Act 1968. Under the new law, police will be able to act when a suspect cannot show a legitimate reason for having the device, and seize it without first linking it to a completed theft.

One important point for drivers to understand is timing. Royal Assent is not the same as the law being switched on. Many provisions in a new Act come into force later, on a date set by separate regulations, and the government has confirmed that simply possessing such a device is not yet an offence in its own right until the relevant section is commenced. Using a device to steal a car is, of course, already a crime. There are also safeguards for genuine uses, because some signal equipment, such as Ofcom-approved repeaters that boost a weak mobile phone signal, is perfectly legal to own, and the offence is designed so that legitimate owners can demonstrate their lawful purpose.

Why the change was needed

The scale of the problem explains the urgency. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated around 732,000 incidents of vehicle-related theft in the year to September 2024. Police recorded crime data for the same period showed 375,048 vehicle-related thefts, of which 132,412 were thefts of a motor vehicle and 188,517 were thefts from a vehicle. A great deal of that crime is driven by organised groups who steal particular makes and models to order, for resale whole or stripped for parts.

Electronic methods are central to it. The Metropolitan Police estimates that electronic devices are used in roughly 60 per cent of vehicle thefts in London, and earlier survey data found that manipulation of a remote locking signal featured in around 36 per cent of thefts nationally. The old legal position, which required proof of intent to steal, made it hard to act against the people supplying and stockpiling these gadgets even when their only realistic use was crime. Closing that gap is the heart of the new offences, and vehicle safety body Thatcham Research has welcomed the law as a way to disrupt the gangs at the supply end rather than only catching thieves after the event.

How thieves exploit keyless systems

Understanding the methods helps you defend against them. The most common is the relay attack, used on cars with keyless entry and start. One criminal stands near your home holding a device that picks up the faint signal from your key fob, often through a wall or window, and relays it to an accomplice standing by the car. The vehicle is tricked into believing the key is present, so the doors unlock and the engine starts. The whole process can take under a minute and makes no noise.

Signal jammers work the other way. They block the signal between your fob and the car, so that when you press to lock up and walk away, the car never actually locks, leaving it open for the thief. More sophisticated jammers can also interfere with tracking devices, helping criminals move a stolen car without it being traced. CAN injection, a newer technique, involves accessing the car’s internal wiring, sometimes through a headlight unit, to send commands that unlock and start the vehicle. Each method relies on the kind of electronic device the new law is designed to take out of circulation.

How to protect your car now

Because the legislation will take time to bite, and because it targets the supply chain rather than every individual gadget already out there, the most effective protection remains the steps you take yourself. The single cheapest measure is a Faraday pouch or signal-blocking box for your keys, which stops a relay device picking up the fob signal at home. Keep keys away from the front door and windows, and never leave a spare in the car.

Visible physical deterrents still work well because they slow thieves down and make your car a less attractive target. A good steering wheel lock, a wheel clamp or a lockable cover for the on-board diagnostic port all add time and hassle. A Thatcham-approved tracker improves the chance of recovery if the worst happens, and some cars allow you to set a driver PIN or a drive-away immobiliser that stops the vehicle moving without a code even if the doors are opened. Parking defensively, in a garage, on a driveway or in a well-lit spot, and angling other vehicles to box yours in, all reduce the risk.

It is also worth checking whether your model is a known target and whether the manufacturer has issued a security update, since some brands have rolled out software fixes for relay vulnerabilities. For a closer look at which cars thieves go after most, see our breakdown of the models stolen most often in the UK this year. The new law should, over time, make the tools of car theft far harder to obtain. Until it does, a Faraday pouch and a steering lock remain your best line of defence.

There is an insurance dimension worth knowing about as well. Some insurers now ask whether you keep your keys in a signal-blocking pouch or have fitted an approved tracker, and taking those steps can help keep premiums in check as well as deterring thieves. If your car is stolen despite your precautions, report it to the police immediately, on 101 or on 999 if a theft is in progress, note the crime reference number, and tell your insurer and the DVLA without delay so the vehicle record is updated and any recovery can begin quickly.

The new offences form part of a wider package the government says is aimed at organised crime, and ministers have indicated that the various measures will be switched on over the coming months once the supporting regulations are in place. Security experts and motoring bodies have broadly welcomed the direction, while stressing that the law works best alongside manufacturer security improvements and sensible habits from owners. The legislation tackles the supply of these gadgets at source, but the cars least likely to be stolen will still be the ones whose owners have made them difficult, time-consuming targets.

Sources:

• GOV.UK, Crime and Policing Act 2026 serious crime factsheet
• Auto Express, keyless car theft devices outlawed
• Fleet News, Thatcham Research welcomes law against vehicle theft devices