10 Hondas have been stolen in Richmond since last week. Here's what to know about the 'relay attack' thefts

A new wave of motor vehicle theft is targeting owners of Honda vehicles in Richmond.

Police said that in the last 10 days, they have documented 10 cases of a Honda car being stolen.

• Seven of those cars were CRVs, and three were the Accord.
• Five of the thefts were in Woodland Heights, while four were in the city's Third Precinct in Northside.

"Detectives are investigating the possibility an electronic device is being used to gain entry to the vehicles," a Richmond Police spokesperson said.

According to AAA, a "relay attack" involves thieves using an antenna to pick up the signal from a remote key, then amplify it and start the vehicle from a distance where the key wouldn't traditionally work.

The motor club said that many newer cars have key fobs that emit a signal at all times.

"This method can take less than 60 seconds to execute and is most effective when the car's key fob is left in closer proximity to the vehicle, such as near an exterior door," according to the AAA website.

Police are encouraging Honda owners to use a steering wheel lock to discourage potential theft.

AAA also suggests a Faraday box, which can store keys and protects the signal from being read by outside devices.

Anyone with knowledge of the thefts is encouraged to contact an RPD detective at 804-646-8167.

Contact Michael Phillips at mphillips@richmonder.org.