Police have issued a warning to residents following increased keyless van theft activity in Staffordshire in recent weeks.

The thefts, which are predominantly taking place in the evening and overnight, do not require access to the keys as the thieves use technology to access the unique key signal to open the van at a distance.

Ford Transit vans appear to be a particularly popular choice in these theft incidents, however it's a timely opportunity to remind all keyless van owners to be vigilant and use appropriate security measures to reduce the likelihood of being targeted.

Whilst we appreciate you may not own a van yourself, we'd really appreciate your help in spreading the word if you know a friend, family member or neighbour with a van so they can take extra precautions to secure their vehicle.

Tips to reduce the chances of van theft:

- If you have a keyless vehicle consider purchasing a security pouch for your keys to block anyone accessing the unique signal.

- Check your doors are actually locked before walking away. Sometimes thieves use signal jammers to stop your car from locking.

- Keep your keys hidden from view when you get home.

- Consider using security measures like steering or pedal locks.

- Consider the use of security lights on your driveway as these can be off putting for opportunistic thieves.

- Consider installing gates or security bollards to make it harder for thieves to remove a vehicle from your property.