10:11 am, August 20, 2015
VICTIMS of keyless car thefts should sue car manufacturers that kept quiet about flaws in remote locking systems, according to leading UK lawyer Nick Freeman.
Despite knowing that hi-tech gadgets used to unlock more than 100 different models could be hacked, makers kept the news secret.
Last year, keyless vehicle thefts accounted for 40 per cent of all cars stolen in London alone.
Now Freeman, aka Mr Loophole, has said owners of cars on the ‘at risk’ list – which include certain models made by Volkswagen, Audi, Kia, Porsche and Lamborghini – have a legal right to demand compensation for their loss.
Freeman said: ‘The manufacturers of these cars have been misleading buyers over their security claims, and they have compounded this deception by maintaining a wall of silence over the vulnerability of these cars to theft.
‘Their advertising campaigns include reference to, amongst other things, the car’s security systems when they were harbouring information that their remote-control security systems could be easily hacked, and this information was not passed on to their customers.
‘This deception is an utter disgrace and they should be made liable for any relevant financial loss sustained by their customers, including any inflated insurance premiums.’
Freeman added: ‘My advice to customers who own one of these cars is to contact their dealer and demand that the problem is rectified, failing which, they should invite the dealer to buy the car back.’
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