Vehicle Key Burglaries

Vehicle Key Burglaries

Neighbourhood Matters – Vehicle Key Burglaries 🚨

Message from West Mercia Police

We are advising residents of a recent increase in car key burglaries in the area. Offenders are entering homes—often overnight—to steal vehicle keys before taking the vehicle.

West Mercia Police’s Rural & Business Crime Team (RBCT) has highlighted that these offences commonly occur where vehicles use keyless entry systems and keys are left near doors or windows.

🔐 Crime Prevention Advice (RBCT Recommended)

Residents are urged to take the following steps:

Keep vehicle keys well away from doors, windows, and letterboxes

Store keys in a signal-blocking Faraday pouch to prevent relay theft

Ensure all external doors and windows are securely locked, even when at home

Use intruder alarms, particularly night-time settings

Consider motion-activated lighting at the front and rear of your property

If possible, park vehicles in a locked garage

Where keyless entry vehicles are used, contact your dealer about disabling keyless entry when not required

Avoid leaving spare keys in obvious or predictable locations

The RBCT also advises residents to work together as a community:

Speak to neighbours about keeping valuables secure

Report unfamiliar vehicles or people seen acting suspiciously, particularly during late evening or early morning hours

👀 Suspicious Activity

If you see anything suspicious or believe someone is attempting to gain access to properties or vehicles:

Call 999 if a crime is in progress

Report non-emergency incidents via 101 or www.police.uk

CCTV, doorbell, and dash‑cam footage can be extremely valuable to enquiries

Your vigilance and support help protect not only individual properties, but the wider community.

— Your Local Safer Neighbourhood Team
Working with West Mercia Police’s Rural & Business Crime Team

Reply to this message

Message Sent By
Paul Gough
(West Mercia Police, Business & Rural Crime Officer, Prevention North)