Car Key Burglary and Where to Keep Your Keys at Night

Car key burglary happens when criminals break into a home specifically to steal the keys to a vehicle parked outside. The most common method of vehicle theft involves taking the keys or fobs, either from the vehicle itself or through a burglary at home. Keeping your keys out of sight and properly locking your doors are important steps, although no measure guarantees against theft.

What car key burglary is

Thames Valley Police describe these incidents in their vehicle crime leaflet as vamoose burglaries. These are burglaries which take place specifically to steal the keys to high-value vehicles. They often take place overnight when occupants are in bed asleep, or whilst homeowners are away on holiday.

While some of these thefts are highly targeted, the majority of burglaries occur when nobody is at home and most are not planned but committed by opportunists. Most burglaries are opportunist, so keeping keys out of sight removes the temptation.

Why thieves go for the keys

A warning issued by Frodsham Town Council in August 2024, passing on Cheshire Constabulary advice, states that thieves need either the original car keys or access to your keyless signal. If that means committing a burglary to get them, they will.

Thieves can retrieve keys through your letterbox using a hook. Keep keys out of sight and away from doors and windows. You can read more about how to stop thieves reaching your keys in the letterbox guide.

Where to keep your keys at night

When you are at home, you should keep your key a good distance from your car and completely out of sight. Your keys should never be visible through a front door or a ground floor window. A simple habit is to take your keys upstairs with you at night, leaving them in a bedroom drawer rather than in the hallway.

Keeping your keys away from the front door prevents criminals from fishing them through the letterbox. You should also ensure that any spare keys for the vehicle are stored just as securely.

• Keep your keys a good distance away from where the car is parked.
• Ensure the keys are not visible through any window or glass door panel.
• Store the keys far away from the letterbox so they cannot be reached with a hook.
• Put your spare keys in the same secure location as your main keys.
• Take the keys upstairs with you when you go to bed.

Keyless fobs and signal blocking pouches

If your car uses a keyless entry system, thieves can steal the vehicle without entering your home by capturing the signal from your fob. To stop this, you should store your keys in a security pouch whenever they are not in use, including when you are at home. A signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday bag, is the advice from Secured by Design and Thames Valley Police.

You must test the pouch to make sure it actually works. Put your car keys inside the signal-blocking pouch, walk up to your car and try the door handle. If the car does not unlock while the fob is inside, the pouch is working correctly. Use a signal-blocking pouch for the spare fob too.

You may not need a pouch if your vehicle allows you to disable the keyless function entirely. Many cars let you turn off keyless entry in the settings menu on the dashboard. Some key fobs can also be switched to disabled, so check your vehicle manual or ask your dealer how to do this on your model.

Locking the front door properly

The door matters too. If you have a uPVC or composite door, it will usually be fitted with a multipoint locking mechanism. This is the strip of hooks and bolts that runs down the edge of the door, which is worked by lifting the handle.

You must remember to double-lock uPVC doors every time you close them. This means lifting the handle and then turning the key, and removing the key afterwards. The multipoint mechanism only works if the handle is lifted, so a door that is only pulled shut is not fully locked.

The barrel where you insert the key is called a euro cylinder. These cylinders can be vulnerable to a technique called lock snapping if they are not upgraded. You should ensure your cylinder meets modern snap-resistant standards, which are either TS007 three-star or Sold Secure SS312 Diamond. You can read our guide to anti snap locks explained to find out how to check your current locks.

Securing timber doors and traditional locks

If you have a traditional timber front door, the locking setup is different. These doors normally have a night latch fitted high up on the inside, which is a surface latch often called a Yale lock. The barrel on the outside of this latch is known as a rim cylinder.

Timber doors should also have a mortice deadlock or a sashlock fitted lower down, which is installed inside the wood of the door itself. To properly secure a timber door at night, you must lock the mortice lock with the key and remove the key from the door. Do not rely only on the night latch.

You should check that your mortice lock meets the British Standard for timber door locks, which is BS3621. You can identify this by looking for a Kitemark stamped on the lock faceplate. Insurers often ask what locks are fitted to your external doors, so you should check your own policy wording to ensure your locks meet their expectations.

Tools, ladders and the garden

Thames Valley Police advise making sure that tools or ladders near the property are not accessible to criminals.

You should lock all garden tools away in a secure shed or garage before it gets dark. You must also ensure that all ground floor and accessible upper windows are closed and locked at night. A secure front door is useless if a burglar can easily climb through a downstairs window to take your car keys.

Keys when you are away on holiday

Vamoose burglaries often take place whilst homeowners are away on holiday and the vehicle is left sitting on the driveway. If the car stays at home while you are away, you should consider leaving the keys with a trusted neighbour or relative. Taking the keys out of the house means a burglar who breaks in will not find them.

You must also be careful about who knows the house is empty. You should not advertise a holiday on social media, as criminals can use this information to target your property while you are away. Thames Valley Police also advise using a steering lock as a deterrent.

• Leave the car keys with a trusted relative or neighbour.
• Do not post about your holiday or travel plans on social media.
• Use a steering lock on the vehicle as a deterrent.
• Ensure all external doors and windows are double-locked.
• Lock away all garden tools and ladders securely.

What a locksmith can check

If you are worried about the security of your doors, a locksmith can inspect your property and advise on upgrades. They can check that your door and window locks are in good working order and confirm whether they meet the BS3621, TS007 three-star or Sold Secure SS312 Diamond standards. If you want the convenience of opening multiple doors with one key, they can fit locks that are keyed alike.

There is no government licensing of locksmiths in the UK, which means anyone can trade as one. Because of this, you should look for a locksmith who is vetted. The Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) is the main trade association, and it runs a voluntary approval scheme. Approved companies are vetted, have criminal record checks, employ locksmiths who have passed the MLA exam and are inspected regularly. You should check any MLA approval claim on the MLA's own website.

If your keys have been stolen

If a burglar has stolen your keys, you need to secure both your home and your vehicle immediately. If the thief broke a lock or smashed a door to get in, a locksmith can provide a boarding up service to secure the property before fitting new locks. Even if the burglar entered through an open window, you should replace your external door locks as the criminals now have the keys to your house.

For the stolen car keys, you will need to contact an auto locksmith. Auto locksmiths are a separate specialism covering vehicle entry, key cutting, transponder and remote programming. They can program a replacement key. Ask whether the stolen key can also be stopped from working, and what that will cost.

How locksmith pricing works

When you hire a locksmith to upgrade your locks or replace them after a burglary, the job is usually priced as labour plus parts. Locksmiths charge either by the hour or as a fixed price per job. Many locksmiths charge no separate call-out fee, but some do, and VAT may or may not be included. You must ask for a total price, including parts, VAT and any out-of-hours charge, before work starts.

The price is driven by the time of day, your location and the type and security grade of the lock. Evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays cost more than weekday daytime appointments. Areas like London and the South East also cost more. Most single lock changes and lockouts take well under an hour to complete.

You should be aware of your legal rights when hiring a tradesperson. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a service must be carried out with reasonable care and skill, at a reasonable price if none was agreed, and within a reasonable time. You have a right to have poor work put right or your money back. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, there is normally a 14-day cancellation period for work arranged at home or by phone.

This cancellation right does not apply where you specifically ask for a visit for urgent repairs. However, any extra work sold during that visit is not covered by the exception. Knowing when a job can wait until the daytime rate and when it cannot will help you avoid unnecessary out-of-hours charges.

Avoiding common locksmith scams

When searching for a locksmith, you must watch out for national call centres advertising as a local locksmith. These companies pass the job to whoever is nearest and often quote a very low price on the phone that multiplies on the doorstep. You should check the business has a real local address and consistent reviews over time. Always ask for ID on arrival along with a written invoice.

A bad locksmith might drill a lock that could have been opened without damage. A good locksmith will say whether a lock can be opened without damage, which is called non-destructive entry. Rogue traders might replace a whole multipoint mechanism when only the cylinder or the central gearbox had failed. They may also fit cheap cylinders while charging premium prices.

You should always ask what standard the new lock meets and how entry will be gained before work begins. You must refuse to deal with anyone who demands cash only, arrives in an unmarked vehicle or refuses to give a total price. A reputable locksmith will clearly explain the costs and the work required.

Rented properties and lock changes

If you live in a rented home and your keys are stolen, you must check your tenancy agreement before calling a locksmith. Tenants should get the landlord's agreement before changing the locks.

A landlord who changes the locks to keep a tenant out without a court order commits illegal eviction, which is a criminal offence. Any disputes about access, lock changes or evictions should be handled properly through legal channels. You should contact Citizens Advice or Shelter for guidance on your own situation if a dispute arises.

Common questions

Does a steering wheel lock stop car theft?

Thames Valley Police advise using a steering lock as a deterrent. No measure guarantees against theft.

Will my home insurance cover stolen car keys?

Insurers have different rules regarding stolen keys and vehicle theft from a property. You must check your own policy wording to see what is covered and what security standards your home locks must meet. Insurers often ask what locks are fitted to your external doors when assessing a claim.

Can a locksmith make a new car key without the original?

An auto locksmith can usually cut and program a new key for your vehicle even if the original has been stolen, because auto locksmiths specialise in transponder and remote programming. Ask whether the stolen key can be stopped from working too.

How do thieves fish keys through a letterbox?

Thames Valley Police say keys can be fished through a letterbox using a hook. Store keys out of sight and a good distance away from the front door.

Next steps to secure your car keys

You can make your home and vehicle much less attractive to criminals by following a few simple daily habits. Taking the time to store your keys correctly and lock your doors properly will help reduce the risk of a vamoose burglary.

• Move your car keys away from the front door and out of sight.
• Place your keyless entry fobs into a tested signal-blocking pouch.
• Lift the handle and turn the key to double-lock your uPVC doors.
• Lock your timber doors with the mortice deadlock and remove the key.
• Lock away any garden tools or ladders that a burglar could use.

If you have lost your keys, suffered a break-in, or want to upgrade your door cylinders to a snap-resistant standard, you can find a locksmith near you to carry out the work securely.