“Car-hacked” is the new hi-jacked

“Home Secretary Theresa May recently revealed that one in three vehicles pinched in London are hacked and stolen without the owner’s keys. This shocking statistic represents the changing threats faced by both police and victims of crime in 21st century Britain.

“Keyless vehicle theft is on the rise, not just in London, but across the UK as a whole. Criminals are developing more sophisticated ways of breaking entry, and no longer need to smash a window. Instead, high technology devices do the work for them without causing any damage or drawing attention to what’s going on.

“Scarily, hackers can take control of a vehicle in as little as 10 seconds. They do this by blocking the signal and diverting it to a criminal database as soon as the car owner presses the electronic key fob to lock the vehicle. From there, it can be reprogrammed onto a new blank fob that unlocks the car.

“And that’s just the start of it. Some criminal gangs are reportedly also using computer malware to take over vehicle systems via satellite to then remotely issue electronic commands to unlock the car, start up the engine, and speed away.

“And because expensive vehicles – such as Land Rovers or BMWs – are the main targets on criminal hit-lists, it is more important than ever to check your car insurance policy.

“Some may only cover you if you have an industry approved theft recovery tracking device fitted or keep your car in a garage. Car-theft crime is ever evolving, so it’s worth being aware of any practical steps you can take to cover yourself for such an event.

“Here at Russell Scanlan, we understand the importance of insuring your assets with the appropriate level of cover, giving you peace of mind in the face of such unsettling realities.“If you are a high net worth client and you are worried about how such a crime might affect you, then do talk to us. Our team of experts can help you understand the implications of such crimes and how to make sure you are appropriately protected.

Bryan Banbury is Managing Director at Russell Scanlan, one of the UK’s leading independent insurance broking and risk managing firms.
Blog source: Daily Mail