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keyless-theft-protection-london
Relay Attack Prevention — UK
Keyless theft protection that actually works
Relay attacks don’t bypass your factory immobiliser — they make it irrelevant. A LockCar relay immobiliser adds a second layer the attack cannot touch.
Your factory immobiliser checks that the key is present. A relay attack makes the car think the key is right there — by amplifying its signal from inside your house. The engine starts. The car is gone. In under 60 seconds. No alarm. No broken window. No evidence.
£50cost of a relay device capable of stealing a £50,000 car
60stypical theft time — no alarm, no force, no trace
70%of UK car thefts now use this method (ABI, 2024)
How relay attacks work — and how we stop them
A relay attack uses two devices: one positioned near your front door to pick up your key’s signal, and one near your car to relay that signal to the car’s receiver. The car sees a valid key. The factory immobiliser is satisfied. The door unlocks. The engine starts.
The factory immobiliser is not the problem. It works exactly as designed — it verified a genuine key signal. The problem is that relay attacks present a genuine key signal from a key that is 50 metres away inside your house. An aftermarket relay immobiliser operates on a completely different principle: it cuts a physical circuit that the key signal — genuine or relayed — has no ability to restore.
When a LockCar relay immobiliser is armed, the fuel pump circuit is physically broken. The ECU receives a valid start command. The starter motor cranks. But without the fuel pump completing its circuit, the engine cannot fire. The thief drives away — or rather, doesn’t. They sit in your car, confused, for a few seconds, then leave on foot.
The three keyless theft methods — and LockCar’s response
Threat 1
Relay attack (keyless signal amplification)
The dominant theft method — two relay devices amplify your key signal across distance. LockCar relay immobilisers prevent engine start regardless of key signal validity. Even a perfectly relayed signal cannot close the broken relay circuit.
Threat 2
CAN injection (OBD port exploitation)
Thieves access the OBD diagnostic port (often via the headlight housing) and inject signals into the CAN bus to bypass the factory immobiliser entirely. LockCar relay products operate outside the CAN bus — injection attacks cannot affect the physical relay circuit.
Threat 3
OBD key programming (older vehicles)
On pre-2018 vehicles, some thieves programme a new key via the OBD port. An OBD port lock blocks physical access. Combined with a relay immobiliser, this closes both attack vectors for older vehicles. LockCar advises this layered approach for Ford Transit, VW, and BMW pre-2018 owners.
The right LockCar product for keyless theft protection
Best for most cars
IC3ST — £139
Relay immobiliser + app + proximity tag
The direct Ghost alternative. Physical relay interruption, hands-free proximity disarming, full app control. Zero ECU contact. Fits all 12/24V vehicles.
Best for high-risk vehicles
ONE Plus — £259
Relay + GPS + 4G camera + remote
Full keyless theft protection with GPS recovery, 4G live camera, automatic night arming, and remote phone immobilisation. For Range Rover, BMW, and Mercedes owners.
IS357 — £149
5m proximity + smartwatch
Extended proximity range for larger vehicles, smartwatch disarming. Recommended for owners with warranty concerns on European makes.
IS326 — £129
Entry relay immobiliser
Solid 20A relay protection for vans, older vehicles, and commercial use. App-controlled, professional installation, no ECU contact.
Signal-blocking pouches alone are not enough. Faraday bags prevent relay attacks while the key is in the pouch — but the moment you pick up the key to leave, the risk resumes. A relay immobiliser protects your car even when the key is in use, because it operates independently of the key system entirely.
Stop relay attacks — UK-wide professional installation
Keyless theft protection from £139
Physical relay. Proximity tag. Zero ECU contact. The relay attack has no answer to a broken fuel pump circuit.
Shop protection → WhatsApp for adviceFrom £139product only
from £300 fitted
from £300 fitted
Keyless theft FAQ
Does a Faraday pouch protect against relay attacks?
A Faraday pouch blocks your key’s signal while the key is inside it. It does not protect against relay attacks when the key is in use or not stored in the pouch. It is a useful habit but not a reliable technical countermeasure on its own.
My car has a PIN-start system — is that enough?
Factory PIN-start or motion-sensing key storage features help but do not provide layered protection against all attack vectors. CAN injection attacks bypass factory systems entirely. A relay immobiliser that operates outside the CAN bus provides a protection layer that factory systems cannot replicate.
My car is a 2024 model — am I still at risk?
Yes. Relay attacks work on modern keyless entry systems regardless of vehicle age. Newer vehicles may be harder to clone via OBD, but relay attack vulnerability is an architectural feature of all keyless entry systems, not a flaw that manufacturers have resolved with software updates.
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