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Car park and parking lot vehicle security, why your car is at risk when you shop
Car parks, retail park bays, and workplace parking are among the most active relay attack locations in the UK. Unlike driveway attacks where criminals need to be near your property, car park relay attacks take place in public spaces where criminals blend in. LockCar’s immobiliser protects your vehicle in car parks just as effectively as on your driveway.
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Car parks, retail park bays, and workplace parking are among the most active relay attack locations in the UK. Unlike driveway attacks where criminals need to be near your property, car park relay attacks take place in public spaces where criminals blend in. LockCar’s immobiliser protects your vehicle in car parks just as effectively as on your driveway.
How relay attacks happen in car parks
Car park relay attacks differ from residential driveway attacks in one critical way: the key fob is being actively carried by its owner inside the building. This means the relay equipment does not need to extend the signal through walls, it simply needs to extend it through open air across a car park. The signal range required is typically 10 to 50 metres depending on how far the owner has walked from the vehicle. At this range, the relay equipment is significantly more reliable than in residential scenarios where signal must penetrate building materials.
Supermarkets, shopping centres, and retail parks are the most commonly reported car park relay attack locations in UK police data. CCTV coverage is extensive, but relay attacks are not visually distinguishable from any other two people walking through a car park. The criminals look like shoppers. The attack takes under 60 seconds. By the time CCTV is reviewed, the vehicle is gone and the criminals are out of range.
Workplace parking, particularly at large office parks, is an increasingly targeted environment. Vehicles parked for eight or more hours while owners are inside provide a long window for attack with minimal time pressure. The owner is unlikely to check their vehicle during working hours, giving criminals time to execute an attack and remove the vehicle from the area without urgency.
Why a Faraday pouch does not help in a car park
A Faraday pouch blocks the key fob signal when the key is inside the pouch. In a car park attack, the key is in the owner’s pocket, bag, or hand, not in a pouch. The pouch only helps when the key is stationary and stored. It provides no protection at all for the scenario that car park attacks represent, which is the most common single theft scenario outside of overnight residential attacks.
LockCar’s relay break is the only countermeasure that is equally effective in a car park as it is on a driveway. The relay break does not care where the key fob is or whether it is in a Faraday pouch. The engine cannot start without the LockCar authentication regardless of the key’s location. This is the defining advantage of a physical relay break over signal-blocking approaches.
How LockCar stops this threat
LockCar installs a hardwired relay break in the vehicle start circuit. This break is positioned downstream of the factory immobiliser, the OBD port, and the CAN bus. Even if a criminal performs a successful relay attack or CAN bus injection and satisfies the factory security, the engine will not start because the LockCar relay is open. Closing that relay requires a second, independent encrypted authentication that relay equipment cannot replicate. LockCar is designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom and installed by mobile engineers at your home, workplace, or any accessible location.
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How long does LockCar installation take?
Installation typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. Our mobile engineer brings all parts and equipment to your location. The system is fully tested before the engineer leaves and you receive installation documentation on the same day.
Will LockCar interfere with my vehicle’s factory electronics?
No. LockCar installation uses vehicle-specific wiring procedures and connects to the start circuit in a way that is invisible to the factory CAN bus, ECU, and infotainment systems. All factory functions continue to operate exactly as before.
Does LockCar cover my area?
LockCar’s mobile service covers the entire UK. Same-day and next-day appointments are available in most areas. WhatsApp or call Victor to confirm availability and book at your preferred location.
Can I get insurance documentation after fitting LockCar?
Yes. Every LockCar installation comes with a full certificate including device serial number, installation date, vehicle registration, and a technical description of the relay break mechanism. This documentation is accepted by the majority of UK insurers for discount applications.
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