Abu Dhabi Police deny car thefts with electronic master key

Abu Dhabi Police has denied reports of thieves using a common electronic key to steal cars, and has urged residents not to leave their vehicles with engines running.

Col. Rashid Al Mismary, Acting Director at Police Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police, denied rumours that the police have been receiving complaints of car thefts using an electronic key that can open any car, reported Arabic daily Al Bayan.

According to the newspaper, it has received several inquiries from residents about vehicles being stolen in the capital by using an electronic key that can open any model of any car.

Col Al Mismary has confirmed that the police has not received any such complaint.

He said the police do receive complaints of car thefts, but they are either of break-ins or of cars being driven off when the engine is left running without anyone inside.

Col Al Mismary said car owners’ neglect is the main reason for such thefts.

The Directorate of the Metropolitan Police has deployed police patrols round the clock in residential and commercial areas of the capital to control such thefts, he added.

He advised residents not to leave valuable goods or cash inside their vehicles. And in unavoidable cases, they should be carefully stashed away, he added.

Col Al Mismary stressed on the importance of not leaving vehicles unattended when the engines are running.

He said, however, it is noteworthy that the rate of theft of contents from cars in Abu Dhabi fell 27 per cent – from 143 cases in 2012 to 104 last year. And of the 82 cases of car thefts reported, 16 were break-in cases, he added.

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