A BURGLAR snatched car keys from a house in Wilmslow and drove off in a black Mercedes.

The vehicle was taken from Regent Park Court on Gravel Lane.

Police say burglars took the vehicle between 10pm on Monday, April 25 and 10am on Tuesday, April 26.

A spokesman for Wilmslow Police said: “The keys to a black Mercedes were stolen along with the car.”

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Earlier this year Cheshire Police warned of a spike in Range Rovers with keyless ignition.

Criminals are exploiting technology to get into cars and drive them away without using a physical key fob.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "Keyless car theft or 'relay theft' is when a device is used to fool the car into thinking the key is close by. This unlocks the car and starts the ignition.

"Thieves only need to be within a few metres of your car key to capture the signal, even if it’s inside your home.

"This means that even if your car and home are secure, thieves can still unlock, start and steal your car."

Police have issued the following safety tips to help drivers protect their vehicles.

When at home keep your car key and the spare key well away from the car.

Put the keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag.

Reprogramme your keys if you buy a second-hand car.

Turn off wireless signals on your fob when it's not being used.

Detectives are asking people living in the neighbourhood to check CCTV footage and send any information to orlo.uk/AzBqN, quoting 22000284442