Drivers should beware of fake Faraday pouches which do not provide the advertised protection against keyless vehicle theft, according to Tracker.
The vehicle tracking company said tests on available pouches – designed to prevent electronic signals from keyless fobs being amplified and exploited by thieves – had revealed significant differences in their effectiveness.
Tracker head of police liaison Clive Wain said: “Unfortunately, it’s not just organised vehicle thieves benefitting from the increase in keyless vehicle thefts.
“Entrepreneurial individuals are also cashing in by selling fake or inadequate pouches, cases and bags to motorists who are trying to guard against falling victim to car theft.
“While a good quality pouch will provide reliable protection against the relay attack devices thieves use to extend the signal between a fob and the car, poor imitations are proving to offer little more than peace of mind.”
Tracker said drivers could test the effectiveness of a pouch by taking it close to their car, with the key inside, to see if the car picked up the signal and unlocked as it usually would. It said drivers could also check if a mobile signal penetrates the bag, if it is large enough to fit a phone inside the sealed pouch.
