Keyless Car Thefts in Bridlington — How to Protect Your Vehicle
In 2026, police made arrests in Bridlington's Crayke area connected to keyless car thefts and recovered three stolen vehicles. Officers urged residents to use Faraday pouches. Here's what happened, how relay theft actually works, and exactly what you need to do to keep your car safe.
What Happened — The Crayke, Bridlington
In early 2026, Humberside Police made arrests in The Crayke area of Bridlington in connection with a series of keyless car thefts. Officers recovered three stolen vehicles during the operation. In a public statement, police specifically advised Bridlington residents to store car keys in Faraday pouches — signal-blocking wallets — and to keep keys away from front doors and windows where relay devices can capture the signal.
This is not an isolated incident. Keyless car theft — also called relay theft or relay attack — has been rising across the UK for years, and coastal towns like Bridlington are particularly vulnerable. Holiday traffic means unfamiliar vehicles with keyless entry systems parked in unfamiliar locations. Thieves target car parks, residential streets, and hotel/B&B parking areas.
How relay theft works — in under 90 seconds
Relay theft exploits the convenience of keyless entry systems. Your key fob constantly broadcasts a low-power radio signal — the car listens for it and unlocks when the key is nearby. Thieves use a pair of relay devices (available online for under £100) to extend that signal:
Thief 1 — at your front door
One thief walks up to your front door or window with a relay amplifier. This device picks up the signal from your key fob inside your house — even through walls, doors, and windows. The key can be in a coat pocket in the hallway, on a kitchen counter, or on a hook by the door.
Thief 2 — at your car
The second thief stands next to your car holding a relay receiver. The amplifier at your door captures the key's signal and relays it to the receiver at the car. The car detects what it thinks is the genuine key nearby, unlocks the doors, and allows the engine to start.
Time elapsed: 60-90 seconds
No broken windows. No alarms. No noise. The car unlocks silently, the engine starts, and the thieves drive away. You wake up in the morning to an empty driveway with no idea what happened.
The entire attack requires no physical contact with your keys or your car. The thieves don't need to break into your house. They don't need to touch your key fob. They just need to be close enough to pick up the signal — which typically reaches 5-10 metres from where your keys are stored.
What Bridlington police advise
Store all car keys in a Faraday pouch or Faraday box — these block the key's signal completely
Keep keys as far from external doors and windows as possible — ideally upstairs, in a drawer, away from the front wall of the house
Don't leave keys in the hallway, on a hook by the door, or on the kitchen counter where signal reach is strongest
Use additional physical security — a steering wheel lock is a visible deterrent even against relay thieves
Consider a Ghost immobiliser — even if thieves capture your key signal and start the car, they can't drive it without the PIN
Be vigilant in the Crayke area and surrounding residential streets — report suspicious activity to Humberside Police on 101
How to protect your car — the three-layer approach
No single product stops every theft method. A Faraday pouch stops relay theft but doesn't help if a thief physically steals your keys in a burglary. A Ghost immobiliser stops the car from being driven but doesn't stop the initial break-in. The proven approach is to layer your security:
Layer 1: Signal Block
Faraday pouch or box — blocks relay attacks entirely. £10-£30. Essential for any keyless car.
Layer 2: Physical Deterrent
Steering wheel lock (Stoplock Pro, Disklok). Visible, Sold Secure-approved. Makes your car a harder target.
Layer 3: Immobiliser
Ghost 2 — invisible CAN-bus immobiliser. Even with your actual keys, the car won't start without the PIN. £449-£499 installed.
A Faraday pouch alone is good. A Faraday pouch + steering lock is better. All three layers is best — and the cost of all three combined (£500-£600) is significantly less than the insurance excess, premium increase, and hassle of a stolen car.
Is your car at risk?
If your car has keyless entry — where you can unlock the doors and start the engine without taking the key out of your pocket — it is vulnerable to relay theft. This includes most cars manufactured after 2015, and many premium models going back to 2010.
The most frequently targeted vehicles in the UK are performance and prestige models: Ford Fiesta ST and Focus RS/ST, any Range Rover or Land Rover, BMW M-series and X-series, Audi RS and S models, Mercedes AMG, Volkswagen Golf R and GTI, and Toyota Hilux. But any car with keyless entry can be stolen via relay — thieves don't always target specific models. They target specific opportunities.
The simplest test: stand next to your car. Can you unlock it without pressing a button on the fob? If yes, you need a Faraday pouch.
What we can do to help
Ghost 2 Immobiliser Installation
We install Ghost immobilisers at your home or workplace across Bridlington and East Yorkshire. About 2 hours. £449-£499 installed. Invisible — no key fobs, no lights, no radio signals. Even if a thief has your actual car keys, they cannot drive the car away without the PIN.
Faraday Pouches Available
We keep quality Faraday pouches in the van. Ask about one when we attend for any key replacement service, or call us to buy one directly. Tested and proven to block keyless signals.
Stolen Key Deletion
If your keys have been stolen, we will come to your car immediately and delete the stolen key from the immobiliser. The thief can no longer start your car. We can then programme new keys on-site.
Don't Be the Next Target
The Crayke thefts happened to people who thought "it won't happen to me." A Ghost immobiliser, Faraday pouch, and steering lock together cost less than your insurance excess — and they actually prevent the theft in the first place.