Car owners warned after spate of vehicle thefts

And officers are warning that the thieves have been targeting particular types of vehicles.

Since Thursday, 22 February, 2024, 17 vehicles have been stolen with eight of these being recovered.

Detective Constable Dave Fearn said: “In Tayside we've seen an increase in keyless car thefts recently and we understand that a stolen car can be very upsetting for owners.

"We have a dedicated team of officers with the priority of investigating these thefts and disrupting this criminal activity.

“The vehicles that have been stolen are Ford Fiesta and Ford Fiesta ST models.

“It is imperative that car owners stay one step ahead of criminals in the fight against this type of crime and we’d encourage people to take a few extra precautions to support preventing this activity.”

DC Fearn also issued some basic advice that drivers can follow.

He continued: “There are few simple things you can do to avoid becoming of a victim. When you are at home, keep your car keys or fobs away from the car, don’t leave them near your doors or windows.”

“Buy a signal blocking pouch, this can block the transmission of the signal from the car key. You can buy these online.

“Using a steering lock can be an effective way of ensuring that your vehicle is not stolen. It can be a useful deterrent.

“If you have a garage, I would strongly recommend you use it to secure your vehicle or park in the driveway if you have one.

“Vehicle trackers and tracking devices are also a form of additional security and can assist police in recovering stolen cars quickly.

"Ensure your vehicle is locked and secure and all valuables removed when not in use.

“Additional patrols will be carried out in an effort to prevent this kind of criminality. If you witness any suspicious activity, I would ask you contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Further security advice can be found at securedbydesign.com/guidance/crime-prevention-advice/vehicle-crime/relay-theft