Insurers and policyholders may be about to enter something of a minefield thanks to new technology that is making it easier than ever for thieves to break into vehicles.
According to a
Sunday Mirror investigation, new hi-tech decoders, which are LEGAL to buy and are being sold with video instructions, mean that cars can be broken into within moments.
The insurance quandary occurs because the devices – which are on the market for around £600 - leave no sign of illegal entry, making it extremely difficult for customers to prove they did not leave their vehicle unlocked.
The report explains that the gadgets look much like normal car keys and are sold as tools to locksmiths. They are also available with additional equipment which will hack into a vehicle’s immobiliser.
Explaining the tools to the
Sunday Mirror, Steffan George, of the Master Locksmiths Association, noted that “it’s perfectly legitimate for locksmiths to have it – the issue is that it is available to anybody else who wants it.”
“We would like to see locksmith equipment restricted to only those who have met certain criteria,” he explained. “Anybody can call themselves a locksmith at the moment – tradesmen can use our badge if they meet certain criteria, but there is no licensing.”
The gadget came to the attention of the publication after a contractor had his Transit van broken into, with £10,000 worth of tools taken. He eventually tracked the thieves down because he identified his tools when they were being sold on eBay. However, he also noted that “the insurers won’t pay out because they say I must have left it unlocked” despite the fact that three of his neighbours’ cars were also raided on the same night.
A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council noted that work is under way across key industries to prevent the effectiveness of these devices.
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