Vehicle break-ins are rising across Luxembourg, often because drivers leave cars unlocked or use vulnerable keyless systems.
Even when cars are properly secured, there are still easy ways for thieves to gain access, and in some cases, steal the entire vehicle.
It's a trend that has been worrying police for several months now, with reports of break-ins on the rise. Yet many of these incidents don’t require sophisticated methods. In fact, many vehicle owners are unintentionally making life easy for opportunistic thieves by leaving their cars unlocked.
In recent weeks, there have been several attempted break-ins reported on Rue d'Oetrange area of Schrassig. One concerned resident contacted RTL, expressing surprise that the issue hasn’t received more public attention.
Police confirm that the number of car break-ins has indeed increased in recent months. Many of the culprits are what they call "handle checkers", people who go from car to car, simply trying the door handles to see which vehicles are left unlocked. The advice of the police is simple and obvious, but too often overlooked.
According to Tim Pauly from the police's prevention service, too many people forget to lock their cars or wrongly assume that they’ve done so. He pointed out that you can usually tell from a distance whether a car is locked. For instance, if the wing mirrors are still extended, that’s a sign the car hasn’t been secured, he said. Pauly mentioned videos sent in by neighbours, which frequently show how easy it is for thieves to find unlocked cars.
Police estimate that about one in ten vehicles is left unlocked. The perpetrators typically aren’t after the vehicle itself but are looking for valuables they can quickly resell. And since the offence is classified as petty theft under the criminal code, the legal consequences are minimal. These thefts are happening across the country – not just in cities but in smaller villages too.
Pauly explained that they are likely groups of people roaming around at various times of day and night, adding that they try car doors and that, all too often, they succeed.
That's why police strongly advise not to leave any valuables inside vehicles. If the car was left unlocked, insurance typically won't cover the theft.
However, even a locked car can be vulnerable, particularly those with keyless entry systems. These can be bypassed using cheap electronic devices that are readily available online. But there are simple ways to prevent this.
Frank Maas, a mobility expert at the Automobile Club of Luxembourg (ACL), recommends avoiding one common mistake: leaving your car keys close to the front door. This allows criminals to pick up the key signal from outside the home, he explains. Instead, Maas suggests placing the key inside a special pouch that blocks the signal completely.
Such pouches are available from around €15, although you'll have to remove the key from the pouch before use. Alternatively, wrapping the key in aluminium foil offers a basic level of protection, and might raise a few eyebrows if you're spotted carrying it around.
