Warning issued to drivers after eight Ford cars and vans stolen from Ayrshire within two weeks

The owners of Ford cars and vans are being urged to be vigilant after eight were stolen within two weeks in Ayrshire.

The warning comes after police revealed 17 Ford Fiestas had been stolen from Tayside since February 22.

Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus and Ford Transit vans are being targeted by thieves with the force saying the number of keyless car thefts are on the rise.

One of the stolen vehicles from Ayrshire and eight from Tayside have been recovered so far.

Inspector Stuart Dougan states “Across Ayrshire we have seen an increase in keyless car thefts. 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 often Ford vehicles in particular Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus models along with Ford Transit Vans.

North East & Tayside

Drivers urged to be vigilant after spate of Ford Fiesta thefts

Police revealed 17 cars had been stolen in just three weeks in Tayside.

“It is increasingly important that car owners stay one step ahead of criminals in the fight against this type of crime and would encourage vehicle owners to review their own vehicle security and to take a few extra precautions to support preventing this activity.

“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. The use of a signal blocking pouch (also known as a Faraday pouch) 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 strongly recommend you use it to secure your vehicle out of sight.

“Vehicle trackers and tracking devices are also a form of additional security and can assist 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 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.”