Nighttime Attempt to Steal Aston Martin in North London

In the early hours of September 10, a man attempted to steal a luxury Aston Martin Vantage valued at £130,000 from a driveway in Southgate, North London. The incident was captured on the owner's Ring security camera, showing the suspect dressed in black and wearing a balaclava. He was seen holding an antenna, which is typically used to capture signals from keyless car fobs, allowing thieves to bypass the vehicle's security system. This method of theft involves using a relay device that can be purchased from the dark web for around £15,000. The device picks up the signal from the owner's key, enabling the thief to start the car without needing the actual key nearby. The footage lasted one minute and 32 seconds, concluding with the thief leaving empty-handed as the Aston Martin remained secure in the driveway. The owner expressed feelings of shock and devastation over the attempted theft, highlighting the emotional toll such incidents can take on victims. Car thefts, particularly of high-end vehicles, are often executed to order, with stolen cars shipped overseas in containers to evade tracking. Experts recommend that car owners take precautions, such as storing keys in secure pouches or locked boxes, to prevent signal interception. The Metropolitan Police have not commented on this specific incident, but the rise in keyless car thefts has raised concerns among vehicle owners and law enforcement alike.