MORE cars with keyless entry systems have been stolen in St Helens this month, police have warned.

Three vehicles in Moss Bank were taken on Monday, prompting officers to urge owners to be vigilant and consider buying signal blockers.

In November police said thieves were cloning wireless signals from car keys left inside homes, enabling them to open the vehicle on the driveway, start the engine and drive away.

Police say this means criminals are able to avoid having to break into homes to steal the fobs.

Up to 11 thefts in 10 days had been reported when the Star ran a story on November 27 – but that number has since jumped further.

Most of the thefts have happened overnight and were Ford vehicles.

Detectives say that while keeping your keyless entry fobs out of sight or hidden is recommended, it does not stop it from being cloned.

They are advising car owners to consider using a Faraday Bag/signal blocking case for their keys. These block the signal from the fob, are relatively inexpensive and are widely available.

Other tips for keyless car owners include:

• Contact your dealer and check if your vehicle has any outstanding software updates, which may improve security

• Check if the keyless fob can be turned off/on, your dealer can confirm and advise how to do this

• Be vigilant, and report any suspicious activity in your neighbourhood to the police

Anyone with information about vehicle crime is urged to DM @MerPolCC or message ‘Merseyside Police CC’ on Facebook.