Nissan Juke theft spree: 11 cars stolen across Caerphilly in just 24 hours

Police in south Wales are investigating a concentrated outbreak of vehicle crime after eleven Nissan Jukes were taken from across a single county within a 24-hour window. Gwent Police confirmed the thefts occurred in the Caerphilly county borough area last Thursday and Friday, marking an unusually intense burst of criminal activity targeting one specific model of car.

The scale of the incident has surprised both residents and officers, not least because the vehicles were apparently taken from a relatively compact geographical area in such a short space of time. A total of thirteen vehicles were reported stolen across the borough during the period, and all of them have since been recovered, according to the force.

The stolen cars included the eleven Nissan Jukes as well as a Kia Niro and a Nissan Navara. Despite the recovery of every vehicle, no arrests have yet been made, and Gwent Police said inquiries into identifying those responsible are ongoing.

The incident fits a broader national pattern. Data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency indicates that the Nissan Juke Tekna is the most stolen car in the United Kingdom so far in 2026. That statistic places the model at the centre of a wider problem facing drivers of certain keyless-entry vehicles.

Security expert Michael Fraser, a former burglar who now advises on crime prevention, said the Juke is a frequent target for two main reasons: it carries valuable spare parts and is comparatively simple to steal. He explained that many Juke models built between 2010 and 2019 rely on keyless-entry systems that can be defeated using signal-relay equipment.

The technique involves criminals using electronic devices to intercept the signal emitted by a key fob kept inside a home. Once the signal is captured, it can be used to unlock and start the vehicle without ever entering the property. Fraser noted that drivers often leave keys close to the front door out of habit, making the job easier.

He warned that the signal can be picked up through glass, meaning a key left on a hallway table or kitchen counter may still be vulnerable. His advice to motorists is to store keys in a Faraday pouch, which blocks radio signals, and to keep them well away from doors and windows.

Fraser also suggested a series of practical measures to make a car harder to take. He recommended driving on to a driveway nose-first rather than reversing in, since a car facing the road can be driven away immediately, while one that must first be reversed takes longer to move. When parking on the street, he advised turning the wheels into the gutter rather than leaving them straight, which makes towing or manoeuvring the vehicle more difficult. Physical deterrents such as steering locks, sometimes called crook locks, also remain useful, he added.

In Fraser's assessment, the Juke's popularity among thieves is driven largely by the second-hand parts market. He said the car is high value when broken down for components, which encourages criminals to strip stolen vehicles and sell the parts on rather than moving the whole car.

Motoring journalist Claire Evans offered a more nuanced picture of the model's vulnerability. She said newer Juke models are less likely to be stolen through relay attacks because their key fobs stop transmitting codes once they have been stationary or unused for around two minutes. Older versions, by contrast, lack that safeguard.

Evans pointed to the Juke's market position as another factor. As a small SUV, it sits in the most popular vehicle class in the country, making stolen examples easy to sell on. She also noted that the cars are economical and affordable to run, which adds to their appeal for buyers — legitimate or otherwise.

For extra protection, Evans suggested keeping key fobs in a metal container, such as a biscuit tin, or even inside a microwave at home, as long as the enclosure prevents the signal from being copied. The principle in each case is the same: block the transmission so the code cannot be captured.

The human cost of the spree is evident in the experience of one local resident. Claire, a 49-year-old healthcare assistant from the Caerphilly county area, said her 2016 keyless Nissan Juke N-Connecta was taken from outside her home in the early hours of 25 September. Her husband discovered it was missing at 06:45 BST when he left for work and saw the space beside their house was empty.

Claire described herself as a light sleeper but said she heard nothing during the night, suggesting the thieves operated quietly and efficiently. Her car was located two days later, roughly two minutes from her home, after a neighbour recognised it from an appeal she posted on Facebook and got in touch.

She said recovering the vehicle came as a relief and it appeared to be in good condition, though it is currently with a forensics team. Even so, the disruption has been significant. Without her car, she has had to depend on other people for transport — something she finds difficult given how independent she is. She now intends to store her keys more securely and have them re-coded.

Gwent Police said officers are working to identify those behind the thefts. Inspector Richard Tovey said patrols across the borough will continue following the reports and encouraged anyone with concerns or questions to speak to officers. The force has also appealed for anyone with information to come forward. Nissan has been approached for comment.