Nissan Juke Theft Spike: 11 Cars Stolen in 24 Hours Across Caerphilly as Police Recover All Vehicles

A single Welsh county borough has been hit by an extraordinary wave of car crime after thieves made off with eleven Nissan Jukes in the space of just twenty-four hours.

Gwent Police confirmed that the vehicles were taken during a spate of thefts across Caerphilly county on Thursday and Friday of last week. The concentrated nature of the crime spree - more than a dozen vehicles targeted in one local authority area in a single day - has alarmed residents and prompted a heightened police presence across the borough.

All eleven Nissan Jukes have since been recovered, along with a Kia Niro and a Nissan Navara that were also reported stolen during the same period. In total, thirteen vehicles were taken from the Caerphilly county borough, and every one of them has now been located. Despite the recoveries, no arrests have yet been made, and Gwent Police say their inquiries are ongoing as officers work to identify those responsible.

The thefts have renewed concerns about the vulnerability of certain keyless-entry vehicles, particularly older models that rely on technology which security experts say can be exploited with relative ease. Michael Fraser, a former burglar who now works as a security consultant, explained that Nissan Jukes built between 2010 and 2019 are frequently targeted because many of them use keyless-entry systems that criminals can defeat using signal-relay devices.

The technique involves two people working in tandem with electronic equipment capable of capturing the signal emitted by a key fob kept inside a house. One device intercepts the signal, while a second relays it to the vehicle, allowing the thieves to unlock and start the car without ever entering the property. Fraser noted that the signal is "easy to pick up" and can even be captured through glass, meaning a key left on a hallway table or kitchen counter near the front door can be exploited in seconds. He observed that most people are "creatures of habit" who leave their keys in predictable places close to the entrance of their homes, making the job of a relay thief considerably simpler. He urged drivers to store their keys inside a Faraday pouch - a small screened bag designed to block radio signals - and to keep them well away from the front door.

Fraser also offered practical advice on how to make a vehicle a less attractive target. He suggested that drivers who park on a driveway should drive onto it front-first rather than reversing in, because a car that is already facing the road can be taken far more quickly. If a vehicle is left on the street overnight, he recommended turning the wheels into the gutter rather than leaving them straight, since this makes the car harder to move. Physical deterrents such as steering locks, sometimes known as crook locks, can also add a layer of protection. According to Fraser, the Juke is particularly prized by criminals because it holds high value in the spare parts market, with stolen models often stripped down and sold on piece by piece.

The scale of the problem is reflected in national data. Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency show that the Nissan Juke Tekna is the most stolen car in the United Kingdom so far in 2026, placing the model at the centre of a broader national trend in vehicle crime.

Motoring journalist Claire Evans said newer versions of the Juke are less likely to fall victim to relay attacks because their key fobs stop transmitting codes once they have been stationary or unused for around two minutes. Older models, by contrast, remain exposed. She attributed the Juke's popularity among thieves to its class: the small SUV is the most popular category of car in Britain, making stolen examples easy to sell on. The vehicles are also economical and affordable to run, which adds to their appeal for both legitimate buyers and the criminal market. Evans suggested that owners can store their keys in a metal container - even something as ordinary as a biscuit tin or a microwave - provided the enclosure blocks the signal from being copied.

The human cost of the crime wave was illustrated by the experience of Claire, a 49-year-old healthcare assistant from the Caerphilly county area, whose 2016 keyless Nissan Juke N-Connecta was taken from outside her home in the early hours of 25 September. Her husband discovered the loss at around 06:45 BST when he left for work and realised the car was no longer parked at the side of their house. Despite being a light sleeper, Claire heard nothing during the night and described the thieves as having been "very quiet" in carrying out the theft.

Her vehicle was located two days later, only about a two-minute drive from her home, after a local resident recognised it from an appeal she had posted on Facebook and got in touch. She described the recovery as a relief and said the car appeared to be in good condition, though it is currently being examined by a forensics team. In the meantime, she has had to rely on other people for transport - something she finds frustrating because, as she put it, she is quite independent. Claire now plans to keep her keys in a safe place in future and have them re-coded.

Inspector Richard Tovey of Gwent Police said officers would continue patrols across the borough following the reports and encouraged anyone with concerns or questions to speak to officers directly. The force has appealed to the public for any information that could help identify those responsible.

Nissan has been approached for comment.