Car Theft in 2026: The Layered Defense That Works

car theft prevention 2026

Keyless relay attacks made stealing modern cars faster — under 60 seconds. Recovery data shows layered defense works best:

Layer 1: Deter (make them walk past)

A visible steering wheel lock adds minutes and noise to any theft. Thieves choose easier targets — that's the whole point.

Layer 2: Block the relay

Keyless fob? Faraday pouch at home. The signal can't be relayed from a pouch.

Layer 3: Track (if the worst happens)

Hidden AirTag mounts under a seat or behind a panel. Cheap, silent, and police recover cars with live locations daily.

Layer 4: Record

A dash cam with parking mode captures the attempt — and the face.

All four layers in Security.