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RELAY CAR
ATTACK: 96% OF
UK CAR OWNERS
VULNERABLE
» » ACCORDING TO THE
latest figures from
TRACKER (part of the
Tantalum Corporation), 96%
of motorists it surveyed are
at risk of having their car
stolen by criminals using
the latest theft technique
- a relay attack. In 2016,
66% of TRACKER’s stolen
vehicle recovery customer
thefts’ were committed
by way of a ‘relay attack’,
confirming just how
prevalent this crime has
become.
Not only are so many
people vulnerable to the
risk of theft via this means,
25% of those surveyed by
TRACKER said they leave
their car keys somewhere in
the hallway overnight. This
is the most common room
in the house for thieves
to target to intercept an
electronic car key’s signal,
and it’s where the signal
is likely to be strongest
because of its proximity to
the vehicle itself.
A ‘relay attack’ is a
new method used by car
thieves, which involves two
criminals working together
using electronic signal relay
devices. CCTV footage
obtained recently by West
Midlands Police of a theft
of a Mercedes2, confirmed
just how easily criminals
can use a device to receive
the car key signal from
inside the victim’s home,
transferring that signal to
the second box, which is
placed next to the car. The
car’s system is tricked into
thinking the key is there,
allowing thieves to unlock
the vehicle and drive away
within minutes.
“We’re seeing more and
more of these relay attacks
taking place across the
country,” explains Andy
Barrs, Head of Police Liaison
at TRACKER. “It’s clear from
our survey that many people
are unintentionally leaving
themselves vulnerable to
these kinds of attack, by
putting their keys in easy
reach of relay devices.
“The good news is there
are simple precautions
people can take. Whilst the
relay devices can receive
signals through walls, doors
and windows, metal is its
enemy, so putting keys in a
metal tin or the microwave
is a cost-effective way
to thwart the criminals.
Alternatively, invest in a
metallised signal blocking
pouch, such as a Faraday
wallet, which is designed to
shield electronic keys from
relay attacks.
“It’s also worth
remembering that vehicle
security should be multi-
layered and shouldn’t just
rely on the keyless security
system. Physical barriers,
such as crook locks and
wheel clamps will deter
thieves. And whilst investing
in a tracking device won’t
stop a car being stolen, it
can significantly increase
the chances of police
locating it and returning
it to the rightful owner.
This, plus added vigilance,
dramatically contributes to
keeping thieves at bay.”
ASFP Endorses
Interim Regulations
Review
THE ASSOCIATION for Specialist
Fire Protection (ASFP) has ‘long
been campaigning’ for changes
advised in the interim report from
the building regulations review.
» » LAST MONTH’S INTERIM
review into building
regulations was released by
Dame Judith Hackitt, whose
review began earlier in
2017 in the aftermath of the
Grenfell Tower fire, finding
that a ‘universal shift in
culture’ is needed to rebuild
trust ‘among residents
of high-rise buildings’.
This is also required to
‘significantly improve
the way that fire safety is
assured’, and the report
calls on the construction
industry, building owners,
regulators and government
to ‘come together’ to address
‘shortcomings’.
The ASFP responded that
it ‘endorses the interim
findings’, adding that it has
‘long been campaigning
for formal competency
requirements for fire
professionals, mandatory
third party certification of
products and installers and a
system that more clearly sets
out the requirements and
responsibilities at each stage
of construction’.
Niall Rowan, chief
operating officer of the ASFP,
commented: ‘The ASFP
welcomes the findings of
the review which highlight
many of the inconsistencies
within the design and build
process and we support the
general direction of travel
outlined in the report. I am
pleased to see that Dame
Judith has recognised the
poor practices surrounding
“value engineering”, the
lack of proper procedures
for handover of fire safety
information on completion,
and the need to tighten
up controls on “desktop
studies”.
‘She also highlights a
need for fire risk assessors
to be qualified, and the
confusion surrounding
the testing, assessment
and certification of fire
protection products. All
issues of great concern
for the ASFP. To address
the competency issue, the
ASFP is working with the
Institution of Fire Engineers
to provide training and
competency evaluation
for all stakeholders
involved in the design,
specification, installation
and maintenance of passive
fire protection.
He added: ‘The programme
in development will enable
trainees to obtain an IFE
qualification in passive fire
protection. Furthermore,
working together with the
Royal Institute of British
Architects (RIBA), the ASFP
has been developing a Plan
of Works for Fire. This aims
to ensure that there is a
detailed specification for
fire protection at the design
stage and a schedule for fire
throughout the construction
process.”
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL.CO.UK | JAN/FEB 2018
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