Philip Smith, managing director of specialist motor insurance loss adjuster Claims Management and Adjusting Ltd has written to the National Crime Agency and requested evidence to support claims on keyless thefts. Smith said not enough focus was going into investigating claims properly and identifying those that were fraudulent.

Smith, who is a former police detective, said: “It is hard to criticise the plummeting stolen vehicle recovery rate when the police are up against crooks with Mission Impossible-style kit. But, if that’s the case, then why do we see so many claims relating to 8+ year-old low- to mid-range vehicles? It doesn’t fit the profile. Some constabularies don’t even record the theft method these days, yet it goes unchallenged when they habitually cite ‘car left locked, unattended, keyless theft, unable to assist re suspects’. Where is the evidence that keyless thefts and relay attacks are so prevalent?

“The sad fact is many officers are unlikely to challenge even the most implausible accounts. The car has gone, any suggestion of fraud will be time-consuming, could create an unwanted crime statistic, and potentially invites a complaint; best just let the insurance company deal with it?”

He added: “We urgently need a far more joined-up industry-wide approach which makes life easier for genuine claimants and much harder for those profiting from car crime. It would certainly be a welcome change to hear the good guys described as ‘organised’ and ‘professional’ rather than the bad guys.”

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