You’d think that in 2025, with all the tech built into cars, they’d be safer than ever.
But a shocking new investigation from Channel 4’s Dispatches has blown the lid off just how easy it is for thieves to steal modern vehicles—especially keyless ones.
Even more unsettling? It can take as little as 20 seconds.
The £5,000 Crime That Takes Less Than Half a Minute
In the program Britain’s Car Theft Gangs Exposed, two masked men—known only as “T” and his accomplice—gave viewers a demonstration that’s hard to forget.
With one device, which looks a lot like a walkie-talkie, they captured the signal from a key fob inside a house and used it to unlock and drive away in the car parked outside.
They claim this amplifier tool is at the center of nearly 60% of UK car thefts.
And for a fee of around £5,000 per vehicle, they’re making a fortune.
In their own words, they can swipe 20 cars a month, often stripping them for parts or shipping them abroad.
Thieves Mock Victims and Brag About Overseas Sales
T wasn’t shy about justifying his crimes. “These cars are insured… your Range Rover’s gone, boo-hoo,” he scoffed on camera.
According to him, many stolen cars end up dismantled or sent to countries like Albania, Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria.
How Police Are Playing Catch-Up Against Sophisticated Gangs
Adam Gibson from the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) is one of the people fighting back.
In the documentary, he uncovered three shipping containers packed with 12 stolen vehicles. Many had fake papers.
Some were even cut in half to save space.
And the trend? More cars, lower value. “We used to find £150,000 Range Rovers.
Now it’s pick-up trucks and £40,000 SUVs,” Gibson said.
Brands like Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, and Lexus are now frequent targets.
Insurance Might Cover the Car, But Everyone Pays the Price
A common myth is that vehicle theft is victimless since insurers just pay out.
But Gibson sets the record straight: “Premiums go up for everyone.
There’s a ripple effect.” Often, thieves leave personal items like child car seats and toys behind.
Other times, they clean everything out.
GPS Trackers Reveal the Long Journey of Stolen Cars
In one case, a blue Audi A4 fitted with a secret tracker was stolen in North London.
The GPS signal showed it moving through Enfield before it went dark.
Eventually, the tracker pinged again—this time from Kaunas, Lithuania.
When police raided the site, all that was left of the car was a tangle of wires. It had been completely dismantled.
Why Baldwins Farm Is a Hotspot for Car Trafficking
Private recovery expert Neil Thomas pointed out that places like Baldwins Farm are ideal for gangs.
Tucked just inside the M25 and close to the docks, it’s a perfect launching point for exporting stolen cars. CCTV and signal jammers make recovery even harder.
Car Theft Is Getting Smarter, and So Are the Cops
Vehicle theft is constantly evolving. But law enforcement is stepping up.
In just one year, NaVCIS boosted recoveries from 76 to 589 cars.
Yet with 130,000 cars stolen in 2023/24, that’s still a drop in the bucket.
Most thefts happen using keyless tech—and in London, 90% go unsolved.
Fighting Back with Tech, Legislation and Teamwork
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) says the fight now includes everything from banning signal-jamming devices to cracking down on “chop shops.”
They’ve also launched new partnerships with manufacturers and intelligence services to stay one step ahead of organized crime gangs.
A coordinated sting called Operation Alliances led to 180 arrests and 316 recovered vehicles. But officials know more needs to be done.
“Removing access to signal jammers is just one piece of the puzzle,” a police spokesperson said.
“We’re focusing on ports, scrapyards, and the gangs behind the crimes.”
A Glimpse Into the Dark World of Car Crime
Britain’s Car Theft Gangs Exposed airs on Channel 4 at 8pm, June 19.
The program promises to show the full scale of the problem—and the growing effort to shut it down.