Vehicle thefts are more frequent in coastal areas. F. P.

How to Protect Your Car: The Time of Year When Thefts Spike in Spain

A. Noguerol

Viernes, 30 de mayo 2025, 13:10

Summer is confirmed as the peak season for vehicle theft networks in Spain. During July, August, and September 2024, 8,568 cars were stolen, making it the quarter with the most thefts last year, surpassing the quarterly average by 4%. This seasonal trend is not new, with similar figures in the summers of 2023 (2%), 2022 (4%), and 2021 (6%).

Crime did not affect all regions equally. The Balearic Islands topped the list in 2024, recording a 38% increase in thefts during this period, followed by La Rioja (+13%) and Murcia (+11%). In contrast, regions like Castilla y León (-31%), Aragón (-28%), and Castilla La Mancha (-16%) saw a decrease in such crimes.

Vehicle theft is a constant concern, but taking certain precautions can make a difference. Although there is no foolproof formula, the combination of security measures and common sense is the best defense.

Gregoire Destre, Country Manager of Coyote in Spain, explains that "the summer season is more attractive to organized crime networks that have traditionally opted to operate in more touristy areas. Not only in the Balearic Islands and Murcia, but also in Catalonia and Andalusia, we have observed that there is invariably a higher number of summer thefts since 2021."

A growing problem due to new technologies

Currently, protecting vehicles against theft has become a challenge due to the emergence of sophisticated techniques that exploit the vulnerabilities of electronic systems. Among them, relay attacks and OBD theft stand out, methods that illustrate the increasing difficulty of protecting cars against theft.

Relay attacks take advantage of the convenience of keyless entry and start systems. Thieves use devices to intercept and amplify the signal emitted by the car key, even if it is inside the owner's home. This amplified signal is retransmitted to the vehicle, tricking it into unlocking and allowing the engine to start, all without forcing locks or triggering alarms. The greatest risk lies in the speed and lack of visible damage, making early detection of the theft difficult. The most susceptible vehicles are those equipped with keyless entry and start systems, a feature increasingly common in recent models.

On the other hand, OBD theft focuses on the accessibility of the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) port in most current vehicles. This port, designed to facilitate maintenance and repair, can be used by criminals to connect devices that program new keys or disable the car's original security systems. Once the system is manipulated, the vehicle can be started and stolen in a matter of seconds. The main risk is the inherent vulnerability of the physical connection and the ability to override electronic protections.

6 vehicles recovered in Algeciras by the Civil Guard in collaboration with Coyote Secure agents

Tips to Prevent Thefts

1- Choose your parking spot wisely:

Prioritize garages or monitored parking: Whenever possible, park your car in a closed and secure location.

Well-lit and busy areas: If parking on the street, look for places with good lighting and pedestrian traffic. Avoid lonely, dark, or infrequently visited streets.

Vary your parking location: If parking on the street, try not to leave your car in the same spot all the time to avoid establishing a predictable routine for thieves.

Park in line if possible: On the street, parking in line (one behind the other) can make thieves more exposed to view than in a battery.

2- Essential precautions when leaving the vehicle:

Always lock up: It seems obvious, but most thefts due to carelessness occur when the car is not properly locked, even for "a moment." Check that doors, windows, and the trunk are secured.

Do not leave valuables in sight: Bags, phones, laptops, wallets, or even flashy clothing are magnets for "thieves." Store them in the trunk or take them with you.

Keep original documents out of the car: Store the vehicle's original documents at home. In case of theft, having them in the car facilitates illegal sale or fraudulent use.

Do not leave the keys in the ignition: Never leave the keys in the ignition or in "hidden" places near the vehicle, such as under the mat or sun visor.

3- Enhance security with anti-theft systems:

Alarms: Install a sound and/or light alarm. Its presence is already a deterrent factor.

Physical anti-theft bars: Steering wheel or pedal bars are very visible and force the thief to invest more time and effort, which deters them.

Immobilizers and kill switches: These electronic systems prevent the engine from starting without a specific activation. They must be well hidden.

GPS trackers: In case the car is stolen, a GPS tracker greatly increases the chances of recovering it by allowing real-time tracking.

Smart key protection: If you have a car with a wireless key, consider using a "Faraday cage" type cover to block its signal and prevent thieves from cloning or amplifying it.

"In 9 out of 10 cases, vehicles are stolen without breaking in through electronic methods and are therefore quickly recovered in good condition by our field teams," says Gregoire.

Given the increasing vulnerability of modern cars, Coyote offers Coyote Secure, a tracking and recovery service designed to retrieve stolen vehicles in less than 48 hours. In the words of Gregoire Destre, "Today it is difficult to prevent thefts, despite all the technology that vehicles incorporate. The rapid recovery of vehicles thanks to autonomous and hidden devices allows us to effectively combat this phenomenon and significantly reduce the damage caused by vehicle theft."