PCC writes to major online retailers urging them to stop selling products helping criminals steal vehicles
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has written to
Amazon and Ebay calling on them to take down
products which are helping criminals steal cars.
'Key Programmers', which are listed on both the sites,
are tools that are increasingly being used by criminals.
Whilst legal and often used legitimately by car mechanics,
auto locksmiths and dealers, the devices are
also falling into the hands of criminals.
They work by taking information from the car's on-board
computer, before uploading it to a blank key. Once the new key has
been cloned the criminal can drive off with the car.
In the last two years the number of cars stolen in the West
Midlands force area has doubled. According to police records, in
2015 there were 5,344 cars stolen. In 2017 there were 9,451
cars stolen.
Vehicle theft is now becoming an epidemic and is placing a
significant burden on police time.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson,
said,
"I feel strongly that we need to limit the sale of these devices to
people with a legitimate reason to buy them and to keep them out of
the hands of criminals.
"The mass market is not the place for this kind of technology
and innocent car owners in the West Midlands and beyond are paying
the price.
"I hope Amazon and Ebay agree with
me that it is not responsible for these items to
be sold openly on its sites.
"I would also encourage the firms to review all
items sold to ensure no others are helping criminals
steal cars."
The full text of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner's
letter to Amazon and Ebay:
I write to you regarding a number of items advertised on your site
which are seriously contributing to an increase in car thefts in
the UK.
As the Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands I am
extremely concerned about the increase in car thefts. In the last
two years the number of cars stolen in the West Midlands force area
has doubled. According to police records, in 2015 there were 5,344
cars stolen. In 2017 there were 9,451 cars stolen.
Vehicle theft is now becoming an epidemic and is placing a
significant burden on police time. I am therefore asking you to
stop selling devices known as 'key programmers'. These key cloning
tools, whilst legal and often used legitimately by car mechanics,
auto locksmiths and dealers, are also increasingly being used by
criminals to steal cars. They work by taking information from the
car's on-board computer, before uploading it to a blank key. Once
the new key has been cloned the criminal can drive off with the
car.
I feel strongly that we need to limit the sale of these devices to
people with a legitimate reason to buy them and to keep them out of
the hands of criminals. The mass market is not the place for this
kind of technology and innocent car owners in the West Midlands and
beyond are paying the price.
I hope you agree that it is not responsible for these items to be
sold openly on your site. I would also encourage you to review all
items on your site that might be helping criminals steal
cars.
I eagerly await your response.
Yours Sincerely
David Jamieson
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner