Victims of keyless car thefts should sue car manufacturers who kept quiet about flaws in remote locking systems, lawyer Nick Freeman has said.

Despite knowing that hi-tech gadgets used to unlock more than 100 different models could be hacked, makers kept the news secret with purchasers oblivious to the security flaw, it has been claimed.

Now Freeman, aka Mr Loophole, has said owners of cars on the ‘at risk’ list – which include certain models made by Volkswagen, Audi, Kia, Porsche and Lamborghini – have a legal right to demand compensation for their loss.

Freeman said: “It is clear that the manufacturers of these cars have been misleading buyers over their security claims, and they have compounded this deception by maintaining a wall of silence over the vulnerability of these cars to theft.

“Their advertising campaigns include reference to, amongst other things, the car’s security systems when they were harbouring information that their remote control security systems could  be easily hacked, and this information was not passed on to their customers.

He added: “My advice to customers who own one of these cars is to contact their dealer and demand that the problem is rectified, failing which,they should invite the dealer to buy the car back.”