Watch as brazen car thieves target Sutton Coldfield suburb attempting 'multiple thefts' in same night

Car thieves have been caught on camera attempting to steal cars in the same Sutton Coldfield suburb multiple times in one night. The crooks were spotted waving a relay device near the front of a house in Bridle Lane in Streetly shortly before midnight on Wednesday, October 23.

One balaclava-clad thief was near the house while the other was poised by a door to the car ready to get in and attempt to start it if the signal had pinged. The first would-be thief is seen holding a wire up above his head, attached to a device, visible in a pocket at the front of his body.

He moves along the house attempting to find a signal while a second man stands next to the car. Fortunately, the owner of the hybrid Hyundai Tucson, Debbie Sofroniou, had the keys to her car safely stored in Faraday pouches so their signal could not be amplified, thwarting the thieves.

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But after posting the footage Debbie has seen further footage from neighbours in the road and nearby Bankside Crescent, showing what appear to be the same people trying to steal another three cars in an hour. They are believed to have stolen one.

Debbie said: “They were outside our house at 11.40pm. We have steering wheel locks on both of our cars too. They tried ours and then drove off.

“They then went to Hundred Acre Lane. And to Bankside Crescent off Hundred Acre Lane. There were a number in Bridle Lane they tried the same night. They were in a car – the neighbour’s Ring footage showed it was a small dark car.

“A gentleman came this morning and he’s got footage of them attempting to get into his car and a neighbours. He said he didn’t sleep at all for the rest of the night. In other footage you can see it’s the same people and one of their faces is more prominent.

“They seem to be trying it all around this area on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. They tried all the ones they could in the space of an hour. We had our keys in Faraday pouches. My husband has an Audi S3 but that’s a key one.”

Debbie said she had a Land Rover Discovery Sport stolen off her drive last year. She said: “It was a Sunday afternoon and we were going back and forth to the tip.

“The car went off the drive again just as I was serving dinner. I thought it was my husband going on another tip run. But they took the car. It took months to sort the insurance out.”

She was frustrated by West Midlands Police's response with the case closed straight away, given the lack of damage to a vehicle and with nothing taken. She said: “I have spoken to the police by calling 101. I said I have got my footage and got a number of other people’s footage.

“They said because there’s no damage and nothing was taken there’s nothing they can do. They are closing the case. They even went to see a supervisor. They opened and closed the case straight away without giving me any reference number. They weren’t interested in me sending the footage I had on.”

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We are investigating several incidents of attempted car relay thefts in the Streetly area. We are reviewing CCTV and doorbell footage as we look to identify the offenders involved.

"We would appeal for people with information to contact us via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101 quoting crime reference number 20/948332/24. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

"Keyless car theft or 'relay theft' is when a device called a relay box is used to fool the car into thinking the key is close by. This unlocks the car and starts the ignition.

"To protect against this type of theft, owners can use an additional tested and Thatcham-approved steering lock to cover the entire steering wheel. Here are some ways to protect your vehicle from relay theft:

• Keep your keys out of sight and away from your front door and letterbox. You can store them in a signal-blocking pouch, like a Faraday bag.

• A steering wheel lock or wheel clamp can act as a physical barrier, making it harder for thieves to drive away.

• Consider installing a tracking device. The tracker can send an alert if your car is broken into and it can also help police find the car if it’s stolen.

• A doorbell camera or security camera can deter criminals and provide evidence if a crime occurs.

• Park your car in well-lit areas and avoid leaving it in isolated spots, especially at night. If you don't have a garage, park your car close to home.

• Check for software updates. Many cars have over-the-air updates that include new security measures.

• Check your car is locked. Always manually check that your car is locked before walking away.

"Remember to always be aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious activity to us. If a crime is in progress, dial 999 in an emergency. We also recommend Thatcham-approved tracking solutions fitted to the vehicle It is always worth speaking to your main dealer, to ensure that your car has had all the latest software updates and talk through security concerns with them."