How thieves can steal your Mercedes without the keys.

Police have today released one of the first CCTV footages of a high-tech ‘relay’ car theft in the UK where a gang stole a Mercedes new car within minutes without needing its keys.

The two hooded criminals were able to override the Mercedes’ security system in the Elmdon area of Solihull, Birmingham and the luxury vehicle has not been recovered. The footage shows the men pull up outside the victim’s house. One can be seen waving a relay box in front of the house, which searches for a signal from the key inside the house and transmits it to the second box next to the car.

CCTV footage shows the men waiting briefly for the relay boxes to connect to the keys before the Mercedes’ lights flash and the doors are opened. The thieves then drive off with the whole crime only taking one minute to complete.

If you value your Mercedes car you may need to consider extra security as sports and prestige vehicles will be a target over the Christmas period.