Police are warning county residents to be wary of keyless car thefts following a rise in reported incidents.

Police say keyless vehicle thefts have increased across the country, particularly in East Lothian, in recent months and have listed a number of precautions vehicle owners should take to avoid being targeted by thieves.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Throughout Police Scotland and more recently in East Lothian, we have seen an increase in keyless car thefts, and we understand that a stolen car can be very upsetting for owners.

“The vehicles that have been stolen most recently are from the following manufacturers: Land Rover/Range Rover, Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Mini, Ford Transit and Yamaha M/C.

“However, this is not exclusive; every vehicle owner across the county should be aware.

“Car owners must stay one step ahead of criminals in the fight against this type of crime, and we’d encourage people to take a few extra precautions to support preventing this activity.

“Please be vigilant, work out a good night-time routine that protects your property, and report anything suspicious to Police Scotland on 101.”

Police have advised people to take the following steps to prevent car theft:

• When at home, keep car keys or fobs away from the car, and don’t leave them near doors or windows.

• Buy a signal-blocking pouch that can block the transmission of the signal from the car key. These can be bought online at various retailers or on the secured by design website www.securedbydesign.com

• Use a steering lock which can be a useful deterrent.

• Avoid parking vehicles in dimly lit areas or areas with dense foliage.