Dublin: Gardaí have reported a sharp rise in luxury vehicle thefts across Ireland, with organised Irish and Eastern European criminal gangs increasingly targeting high-end cars in affluent neighbourhoods.
According to investigators, these international networks steal, dismantle, and export vehicles to foreign markets. The gangs use advanced electronic tools to override keyless entry systems, allowing them to unlock and start cars without a physical key.
Over the recent Bank Holiday weekend, a BMW was stolen from a backyard in Foxrock, South Dublin, followed by similar thefts in Leopardstown, Carrickmines, and Cabinteely. Comparable incidents were also reported in Greystones, Bray, and Delgany in North Wicklow, as well as in Galway and Cork.
Residents in Foxrock and Cabinteely have reported multiple incidents in recent months, with doorbell camera footage capturing thieves attempting to steal or move vehicles.
Thefts Concentrated Along Motorways
Security sources say many of the thefts occur near the M50 and M11 motorways, with stolen vehicles transported to the Midlands or Northwest before being dismantled and smuggled abroad. Executive saloon cars are particularly targeted due to the high international demand for their engine parts.
The stolen cars are often modified and exported to countries such as Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, as well as to the UK, where the similarity in Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) between UK and Irish cars makes tracing more difficult.
Sophisticated “Relay Hacking” Techniques
Gardaí say the gangs employ relay hacking, a method that intercepts signals between a car’s key fob and its locking system. Using devices costing as little as €100, one thief stands near a victim’s home to capture the signal from the key fob, while another stands near the car to transmit it — tricking the vehicle into unlocking and starting.
After the theft, criminals quickly remove identifying parts and sell the vehicles or components on the black market.
Garda Advice for Vehicle Owners
Experts are urging car owners to take additional precautions. They recommend storing key fobs in Faraday pouches, which block electronic signals, and parking vehicles in secure garages or behind physical barriers when possible.
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