Insurance claims for theft of or from vehicles have climbed to their highest levels since 2012, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) says.

Vehicle thefts have increased 50% in the past five years alone, with the situation made worse by the growing number of keyless cars on the road.

Thieves have found ways to exploit flaws in keyless technology, giving them access to cars in as little as 20 seconds.

“The continued growth in car crime must be reversed,” ABI Motor Insurance Policy Adviser Laurenz Gerger said.

“Car security has come on leaps and bounds but needs to keep pace with the ingenuity of car criminals. The rising number of theft claims being paid by insurers in part reflects the vulnerability of some cars to keyless relay theft.

“Action by motor manufacturers to tackle this high-tech vulnerability, allied with owners taking some simple, inexpensive precautions, will help put the brakes on this unwelcome trend.”

The industry accepted about 16,000 claims for theft of or from vehicles in the March quarter, up from 14,000 in the corresponding period last year, ABI figures show.

Insurers are settling a car crime claim every eight minutes, with payouts up 22% to £108 million ($197 million) in the quarter.