A security weakness in some keyless entry systems has partly driven record payouts for car thefts in the UK, insurers say.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says the cost of vehicle theft increased 29% to £376 million ($687.47 million) last year, rising more than £1 million ($1.83 million) a day.

The number of claims grew 12% to 56,000, with a theft claim made every six minutes.

The cost of all motor claims, including property damage, personal injury and theft, was more than £8.6 billion ($15.72 billion).

Keyless entry systems are being exploited using a “relay attack”, the ABI says.

One criminal holds a device against the car to capture the signal it sends to its key fob, then they boost the signal to another device held by a second criminal near the owner’s home, which relays the signal to the fob inside. This fools the car and key into thinking they are within two metres of each other, allowing the car to be unlocked and started.

Six of eleven models launched this year have no security measures to prevent this kind of theft.

Despite the rise in vehicle crime, average premiums fell last year for the first time since 2014.

The ABI recommends keeping keys well away from windows and external doors.