As I stand at my garden gate, car key in hand, I'm met with an unexpected sight: my car is nowhere to be found.

Initially, I consider various innocent explanations for its disappearance, such as a busy road or a misplaced parking spot, but it soon becomes clear that my car has been stolen.

A visit from two police officers reveals that my car was detected by a number plate recognition camera in Glasgow, approximately 20 miles away, shortly after midnight, but the trail ends there.

In the aftermath, I join the ranks of around 130,000 UK drivers who fall victim to car theft each year, navigating the process of filing a police report, submitting an insurance claim, and purchasing a replacement vehicle.

As I delve deeper into the world of car crime, I uncover some surprising facts about its evolving nature.

Since the 1990s, most vehicles have been equipped with coded keys containing electronic microchips paired with engine immobilisers, designed to prevent theft without the key.

However, this security measure did not deter the thieves who stole my car, leaving me wondering how they managed to bypass the system.

The police officers who visited my home informed me about a technique known as a "relay attack", which enables thieves to steal cars without the owner's keys.

The process involves one thief using a device to capture the radio signal emitted by the key fob, which is then relayed to an accomplice standing near the car.

The accomplice uses another device to receive the signal, allowing them to unlock and start the car if it has a keyless ignition system, making it possible to drive away in a matter of seconds.

The thief near the property typically stands close to where the car owner is likely to keep their keys, such as the kitchen or hallway, to capture the signal.

If the car has a keyless ignition system, the thieves can simply press the start button and drive away, often in under a minute.

Another method used by thieves is a "CAN bus attack", where a device is connected to the car's wiring network, sending fake messages to the electronic control system and bypassing the immobiliser.

In November, law enforcement officials in France and Italy arrested five individuals suspected of manufacturing devices used for car theft, which were being sold worldwide disguised as portable Bluetooth speakers.

These devices, often traded on the Dark Web or through encrypted messaging, can be expensive, but for professional car crime gangs, they represent a worthwhile long-term investment.

After sharing my experience with colleagues, one of them suggested keeping car keys in the fridge or microwave to prevent signal cloning, as the metal surroundings block the signal.

This simple technique is based on the principle that surrounding the key with metal prevents the signal from being cloned.

For several weeks, I stored the keys to my replacement car in the fridge until I purchased a more reliable and hygienic solution, a Faraday pouch.

A Faraday pouch is a small, metal-mesh-lined bag or box that blocks electromagnetic signals, preventing key cloning, and can be purchased for a relatively low cost.

My interest in car theft led to an invitation to Police Scotland's national training centre, where Sgt Ally Mackay demonstrated the effectiveness of signal-blocking containers and offered advice on their use.

Sgt Mackay recommended investing in a Faraday pouch but replacing it every couple of years, as its effectiveness diminishes over time.

My stolen car was not a luxury vehicle, but a 12-year-old Ford Fiesta with 100,000 miles on the clock, leaving me wondering why it was targeted.

Initially, I suspected that the thieves might have been joyriders who would drive recklessly and eventually abandon the car, but it's possible that it was stolen for other reasons.

A friend who works in the motor trade suggested that my car might have been stolen for its engine, which could be sold for a significant profit.

During my visit to the Police Scotland training college, I met Vince Wise, a former Met officer who specialises in car theft, and he agreed that my car was likely stolen for its parts.

Vince Wise explained that the increasing value of vehicles and the demand for parts have made car theft a lucrative business, with stolen cars often being broken up for second-hand components.

"In the past, it was easy to steal a car and sell it, but now, due to the rising value of vehicles and the demand for parts, it's become a more complex and profitable crime," he said.

Low-value cars like mine often end up in "chop shops", where they are dismantled for spare parts that can be sold at a fraction of the cost of manufacturer's originals.

According to data from Police Scotland, Ford Fiestas are the most commonly stolen cars in Scotland, with 534 reported thefts over an 18-month period.

The Vauxhall Corsa ranked second, with 167 reported thefts, likely due to the popularity and abundance of these models, which creates a high demand for second-hand spares.

The popularity of these models contributes to their appeal to thieves, as there is a large market for spare parts.

The high cost of manufacturer's parts has inadvertently created an incentive for car theft, as well as encouraging insurers to write off damaged vehicles, which can then be sold for parts.

This has created a cycle where write-offs are bought, repaired with stolen parts, and then sold on, often without the buyer's knowledge of the car's history.

Vince Wise noted that some individuals specialise in selling vehicles in the sub-£5,000 bracket, where buyers may be less likely to scrutinise the car's pedigree.

While stolen low-value cars like mine tend to remain local, high-value vehicles are often exported abroad, where they can be sold for a significant profit.

The development of the shipping container industry has simplified the process of exporting stolen vehicles, making it easier for thieves to transport them to other countries.

Vince Wise shared his experience of intercepting stolen vehicles at UK container ports, destined for countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa.

The reason for this is that cars in the UK are right-hand drive, which is also the configuration used in many former British colonies in Africa, making them a convenient market for stolen vehicles.

The fact that these countries have a similar driving configuration to the UK makes it easier for thieves to sell stolen vehicles there, often without arousing suspicion.

This has created a significant market for stolen vehicles, with many being exported to Africa, where they can be sold for a substantial profit, often without being detected.

Investigations have revealed that eastern Europe, Russia, and the Middle East are among the most common destinations for exported vehicles, where criminals are less concerned about the car's drive type.

I consulted with experts on car crime to gather their advice on preventing vehicle theft. They emphasized that installing a tracker significantly increases the likelihood of recovering a stolen car.

UK law enforcement agencies only endorse tracking devices that have earned "secured by design" accreditation, although some individuals have reported success with using discreet, low-cost "airtag" type trackers to gather crucial information about a vehicle's whereabouts.

However, my experts focused on more straightforward, low-tech solutions. Sgt Ally McKay's top recommendation was careful consideration of where to park one's vehicle.

Sgt McKay advised parking in a visible, well-lit area, such as a driveway, and choosing a location with CCTV coverage or natural surveillance from neighbors, as these factors can serve as a deterrent to potential thieves.

He also emphasized the importance of understanding how one's car key works and, if necessary, using a Faraday pouch to protect it, noting that some smart fobs now offer the option to disable the signal at night.

Another crucial step, according to experts, is manually verifying that one's car is locked, as thieves may employ tactics like signal blockers to deceive owners into thinking their vehicle is secure.

Additionally, traditional physical security devices, such as steering wheel locks or wheel clamps, can increase the difficulty for criminals, even if they are not foolproof.

The visible presence of additional security measures can make potential thieves think twice, as it indicates that the owner has taken extra precautions.

The Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), a security think tank, conducted a comprehensive review of UK car crime trends last year.

The study found that car crime has become increasingly sophisticated, professionalized, and globalized, with ties to organized crime, resulting in a costly "arms race" between criminals and manufacturers.

In England and Wales, the number of vehicle thefts has increased by approximately 75% over the past decade, exceeding 120,000 per year, and reversing the decline seen in the 1990s when new security technologies became widespread.

In contrast, Northern Ireland has experienced a steady decline in vehicle thefts, while Scotland has maintained a relatively stable annual figure of around 5,000.

According to Rusi's researcher, the variation in theft rates across regions may be due to a time lag, as new methods of theft can take up to 10 years to spread throughout the UK.

It has been several months since my car was stolen, and there have been no further developments since the last reported sighting in Glasgow.

Although my insurers have paid out and a replacement car has been purchased, law enforcement officials stress that car theft is not a victimless crime, as it ultimately leads to higher insurance premiums, affecting all drivers.