Police recover 13 vehicles after Nissan Juke thefts in Welsh county
Gwent Police say 13 vehicles reported stolen in Caerphilly county borough, including 11 Nissan Jukes taken within 24 hours, have been recovered. A security expert said older keyless models could be vulnerable to relay theft, while police increased patrols and appealed for information.
Gwent Police have recovered 13 vehicles reported stolen in Caerphilly county borough, including 11 Nissan Jukes taken during a 24-hour period. The thefts occurred last Thursday and Friday, and the force said inquiries were continuing. The recovered vehicles included a Kia Niro and a Nissan Navara.
Police have increased patrols in the area and appealed for information that could help identify those responsible. One victim, Claire, 49, said her 2016 keyless Nissan Juke N-Connecta was taken from outside her home during the early hours of September 25. Her husband noticed the vehicle was missing at about 06:45 BST.
The car was found two days later, about two minutes from her home, after a resident recognised it from her Facebook appeal. The vehicle was undergoing forensic examination, Claire said. She described the recovery as a relief but said she was temporarily unable to use the car and had to rely on others for transport.
She planned to keep her keys in a safer place and have them re-coded. Security expert Michael Fraser said Nissan Jukes made between 2010 and 2019 often used keyless-entry systems that could be targeted with signal-relay devices. He said criminals could capture a key’s signal from inside a home, including through glass, and use it to unlock and start a vehicle.
Fraser advised drivers to keep keys away from front doors and store them in a Faraday pouch or a metal container. He also recommended using steering locks and parking in ways that make vehicles harder to move. He said Jukes could be targeted for their valuable spare parts.
Motoring journalist Claire Evans said newer Juke models were less likely to be stolen through relay units because some keyfobs stop emitting codes when they have not moved or been used for two minutes. Gwent Police Inspector Richard Tovey said officers would continue patrols and urged anyone with information to contact the force. Nissan had been approached for comment, according to the supplied report.
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