WARNING of new car theft trick: Alert as 4x4s and keyless cars targeted by hi-tech thieves

HACKERS are making off with millions of pounds worth of luxury cars as keyless 4x4s prove an easy target.

And car crime in Britain has jumped by eight per cent in just a year as 81,000 vehicles were stolen from their owners last year.

Forget hotwiring or tampering, new age criminals are now hacking into security systems as well as cloning key fobs as they target Range Rovers, Land Rovers and BMW X5s and X6s.

The sophisticated thieves used computers to access the car's diagnostic port capturing key data and allowing them to start the engine.

Classic cars are also on the hit list as the value of the vehicles has increased in recent years.

Now experts are urging drivers to opt for old fashion theft prevention methods to counter thieves.

David Hammond of Halfords, said: "Some of the leading brands we stock have seen a rise in sales of nearly 16 per cent in 2015 and these are up to nearly 20 per cent so far this year. 

"First popular in the 80s and 90s, steering locks give extra security where technology can often fail against tech-savvy thieves."

Government figures show vehicle offences were up by 3 per cent last year to 364,468. 

The Office for National Statistics also revealed there was 239,336 cars targeted for in-vehicle thefts where crooks steal belongings.

Matthew Avery, director of research at insurance researcher Thatcham, told The Times: "Thefts of certain high-end vehicles such as Audis, BMWs and Range Rovers have been particularly prevalent in recent years. 

"As part of our vehicle crime reduction efforts, manufacturers have been plugging the holes in their defences with a range of electronic fixes." 

Last month a fleet of stolen luxury cars worth more than £1million was returned to Britain after they were discovered in Africa.

A gang of car thieves had taken Range Rovers, Audis and BMWs from the UK to Uganda.

Investigators used a GPS system within a Lexus and discovered the fleet had travelled through Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

They discovered 24 cars being stored in Kampala.