Thieves target remote car locks

POLICE in France are warning drivers to be extra-vigilant when locking their car, after a spate of high-tech break-ins targeting remote locking systems.

Thieves lurk close to a car as it parks and use a radio frequency scrambling device to stop the car locking when the driver presses their remote control button.

After the driver walks away, unaware that the car is still unlocked, the thief can help themselves to belongings.

The latest reported incident was in Avignon earlier this week, when police arrested a man who they had caught on CCTV stealing from a car at a multi-storey car park in the city centre.

He was found in possession of a radio frequency jammer - which are sold online from specialist websites - and police are now trying to identify other potential victims.

Earlier this summer, police in Paris arrested three youths who had spent three days breaking into cars in the 19th arrondissement using a similar device.