A British car theft ring targeting luxury vehicles has received a collective prison sentence of 12-and-a-half years for stealing 53 high-end cars valued at £3.7 million.

Perry Lovejoy (29), Luke Jackson (28), Billy Harrison (30), and Harry Sales (28) used a ‘master device’ to target keyless vehicles, replicating key signals and transmitting them to a second device to unlock the cars. All four confessed to charges of conspiracy to steal and acquire criminal property.

Lovejoy from Horley, Surrey, received a three-year prison term and an additional nine-month consecutive sentence for involvement in cannabis supply, based on evidence from incriminating messages found on his phone. Harrison, residing in Coulsdon, South London, and Sales, from Croydon, each received three-year sentences.

Jackson, of Croydon, South East London, received a three-and-a-half-year sentence for two burglary offences committed during the theft of four cars, along with an 18-month concurrent sentence. His involvement in stealing an additional 42 cars, valued at £2.1 million, was also considered. 

The year-long sophisticated thefts occurred in the UK’s most affluent regions, particularly spanning multiple counties in the southeast, targeting luxury vehicles like Range Rovers, Rolls-Royces, and Bentleys.

The convictions followed a detailed investigation by Surrey Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit. They were apprehended in late April last year, as officers pieced together their activities using intelligence, forensics, number plate recognition, call data, witness statements, and CCTV footage. In addition, a manual for a relay device was discovered on Lovejoy’s seised mobile phone.

A video released by Surrey Police shows the gang utilising their system to effortlessly unlock a silver Bentley SUV, before ramming it through a driveway gate and onto the street.

Investigating Officer Detective Constable Matt Earl attributed the gang’s actions to “pure greed” and emphasised the significant financial repercussions their thefts had caused.

“These men acted out of pure greed and had no regard for how their crimes may affect the lives of their victims,” Earl said.

“We are glad that these criminals have been successfully brought to justice and will now have lots of time to think about their actions while sitting in prison.”

Keyless car thefts in the UK

As per the Office for National Statistics, more than 130,000 vehicles were reported stolen in the UK in 2022, with many attributed to organised criminal gangs exploiting keyless systems.

Out of all the keyless vehicles across the UK, Land Rover is the main target. According to data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), approximately one out of every 100 Land Rovers in circulation was stolen in the year ending March 2023. Land Rovers were also three times more likely to be stolen compared to the second most targeted vehicle, Mercedes-Benz.

The most common method to steal keyless vehicles is the “relay attack,” like the one used by Lovejoy and his gang. Typically, two devices are involved—one placed near the car and the other near the house where the key fob is kept. The signal is intercepted, duplicated, and relayed between the fob and the car’s computer, facilitating the theft. Reports indicate that such devices can be purchased for as little as £100.

Experts recommend that car owners protect against relay thefts by obstructing key signals. This can be achieved by storing the key in a specially designed wallet, such as the Faraday Wallet.

Another effective method involves enlisting the assistance of security firms like Marengo, which can provide a multi-layered approach to deterring thieves. Marengo can install GPS tracking systems for swift vehicle recovery and recommend visible and audible alarms to deter thieves. They can also devise comprehensive security plans for enhanced property protection.