Far North stolen cars: Cairns Auto Electrical Mechanical, Air and Audio managing director Brett O’Sughrue’s tips

A Cairns car expert has revealed some steps that should be taken if your keys are stolen but not your car yet, and his tips to prevent your car from being driven away.

A CAR expert has revealed some steps that should be taken if your keys are stolen before your car is.

In April, Cairns police Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said there was a black market where the keys would be stolen and sold to others then an address would be provided so they could take the car.

From May 6, 31 cars had been stolen in Cairns this month while 493 had been taken this year.

Cairns Auto Electrical Mechanical, Air and Audio managing director Brett O’Sughrue said there were many preventive measures you could put in place to ensure your car didn’t get stolen.

Far North Queensland police Detective inspector Kevin Goan. Picture: Brendan Radke

“If you are worried about your car being stolen because someone still has your keys. You have to change your whole key barrel and all your door locks,” Mr O’Sughrue said.

“A lot of new cars are electronic so you have to change your whole electronic driveline.

“They have to be reprogrammed with a new key, new key reader, new transmitter for the amplifier, immobiliser. It’s quite involved and can be very expensive depending on the car.”

But Mr O’Sughrue said there were steps that could be taken.

“We can put a GPS tracker into the vehicle with a phone app that tells the customer that somebody has turned the ignition on,” he said.

Another measure that could be taken would be to hide a kill switch which doesn’t allow you to turn the car on without finding that.

Cairns Auto Electrical Mechanical, Air and Audio managing director Brett O'Sughrue with some gadgets that can help avoid your car being stolen. Picture: Andreas Nicola

“My gut would be for everybody to come in with their car and we customise a kill switch attaching from a price point starting from $99 depending on the car,” he said.

A creative technique Mr O’Sughrue said could ward off thieves was with a complicated device called an interlock box.

“It does not start unless you’re sober. People can buy their own personal interlock for their car if they think someone might be driving it that might not be sober,” he said.

“It’s a great idea that prevents accidents.

“People that don’t know how to use this device will find it difficult to get it started.”

Originally published as Far North stolen cars: Cairns Auto Electrical Mechanical, Air and Audio managing director Brett O’Sughrue’s tips