Cars and vans are a crucial part of almost every business. Whether you use it as a mobile store room for your equipment, transport for your staff or simply need it day-in, day-out to get you where you need to go so you can do what you need to do, these motorised work-horses play an integral role in day-to-day life. As such, being without it can cause any number of problems, not least the inability to actually do your job. The true value of these vehicles far exceeds the price you paid for them.
Whilst high-end, modern day cars often come with the highest levels of vehicle security built in to them, van’s don’t always enjoy the same privileges, especially when it comes to van trackers or Global Positioning System (GPS) Trackers.
You might think that vehicle theft is a thing of the past or that these built-in systems have made it impossible to steal a vehicle. That’s not the case at all. Whilst it’s true the systems have become more sophisticated as technology develops, the danger is still very real.
According to the RAC, around 30 vans are stolen every day, costing businesses almost £62 million in just the last 4 years alone. Van theft is increasing year on year and we don’t want you to be the next victim, so what can you do to stay safe?
Vehicle trackers including van trackers, and any GPS tracking system for that matter, does more than just help you find the vehicle should the worst happen. Since the 1970s, when the modern day GPS first found its way into our consciousness, the network of global positioning system satellites have become more advanced and we’ve benefitted from that.
Not only do they allow you to find a stolen vehicle, but some, like our ScorpionTrack S5 and Meta Trak S5 Deadlock can even allow you to immobilise it remotely and get driver behaviour analysis to see how those who are driving your van, including staff, are performing on the roads. These incredible features all help you not only keep your van on the road, but make sure whoever is driving it is doing so with your consent and if not, stop them in their tracks.
It’s not just the humble van that is reaping the benefits from the advance in tracking technology. Similar equipment that keeps your van safe works equally well on your car; whether that’s your own personal vehicle or the fleet of cars you manage.
Car security is vital, especially when you think that 1 car is stolen every 9 minutes in the UK and 1 luxury vehicle disappears every 38 minutes, you begin to see the scale of the problem. It’s worth pointing out that only 40% of those stolen are returned to their owners, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Thanks to the latest in GPS advances, there are now a huge range of vehicle tracking options for your car.
From the fully-featured systems like the SmarTrack S5 D-iD to the more self-managing, self-tracking systems like the Meta Trak Shield, you can keep your automotive valuables where they belong, on the road and working for you and not doing the dirty work of the thieves and criminals out there.
The good news is that almost all of our tracking systems are Thatcham approved and can be installed wherever you are. Not only will they help keep your vehicles safe, they can help to reduce your insurance premium costs down, your fleet up and running and help you to keep your business moving in the right direction for many years to come.
Find out how Infiniti Tracking can help your business by calling us on: 0330 043 3993
Vehicle Tracking: A Key To Efficient Fleet Management
Implementing a vehicle tracking system within your business can increase workforce productivity and increase the efficiency of your fleet, saving you money. While it also helps to keep drivers in check, it can also help to keep your clients happy. Whether you operate a fleet or cars, vans or HGV’s, your vehicles are usually at multiple locations at the same time. Therefore, knowing their whereabouts is of utmost importance.
Infiniti Tracking provides cutting-edge vehicle tracking solutions to keep your business moving efficiently. Our vehicle tracking software has advanced features that can let you manage and improve your fleet with ease.
What makes our vehicle tracking software advantageous for you and your company?
Save more on operating expenses
To help make your business profitable, you may need to decrease your expenditure. However, in reality things aren’t that simple, but there are tools that can help you with essential data insights to make your business more cost-efficient.
With automated reports and instant alerts from our vehicle tracking system, you can easily make your business leaner and more productive. These reports include the daily summary, out-of-hours vehicle use, engine idling, speeding, and more.
In short, our vehicle tracking software can can help you decrease expenditure in multiple ways, including:
Avoid false overtime claims
Lower fuel costs
Lower vehicle maintenance
Save on insurance costs
Monitor fuel consumption and more.
These are some of the many ways in which you can save money with Infiniti Tracking:
Reduce service downtime
Reduced service downtime is directly linked with your service quality. It means reduced service downtime holds a key role in improving the profitability and productivity of your business. However, powerful integrated features in our vehicle tracking system can help you to schedule your trips more efficiently.
Overall, you can ensure improved service levels by using the Live, Real-Time Tracking feature of our Infiniti Fleet Tracking software.
Monitor employees’ driving performance
With the availability of driver behaviour analysis, you are no more at the mercy of your workforce and their driving style. Now you can monitor the employee’s driving behaviour and performance with ease.
With the industry-leading hardware that can connect to any network and provide seamless coverage, you can enhance your assets’ security and driver’s performance on the road in the best possible way.
Increased vehicle security and efficiency
You can utilise our real-time vehicle tracking software to track your vehicles throughout their journey. With the help of real-time information and our handy smartphone app, you can optimise your resources more effectively, even when you’re out of the office.
With Infiniti Tracking, you can stay in touch with your staff or fleet with ease.Furthermore, the instant alert feature of our vehicle tracking system can let you stay informed about any unauthorised activity with ease.
Final Verdict:
Overall, vehicle tracking has been popular for almost a couple of decades now. However, Infiniti Tracking’s vehicle tracking software has leveraged this technology to let you manage your vehicles cost-effectively and efficiently.
Find out how Infiniti Tracking can help your business by calling us on: 0330 043 3993
Can Car Trackers Help Lower Insurance Premiums?
GPS car trackers have become an important security feature for our cars. Tracking technology has become more accessible and it is cost-effective to install in most vehicles these days. Insurance-approved car trackers typically start at around £200 including installation. All you need to do is reach out to a Thatcham-approved installation company, such as Infiniti Tracking, who will recommend the right system to suit your requirements. When it comes to the tracker installation, our expert engineer will visit your home or place of work at a time convenient to you. The installation itself only takes around an hour on average.
Why are trackers beneficial to car insurance?
Most insurance companies will insist that an insurance-approved tracker is installed before they will insure a high-value vehicle against theft. Our range of S5 trackers and S7 trackers are insurance-approved and come with a certificate of installation that will satisfy your insurer. Let’s have a look at why these Thatcham S5 and S7 trackers can help lower your insurance costs:
The chances of your car being stolen dramatically decrease!
Car trackers for insurance can prevent your car from being stolen. The tracker will send an instant alert to the 24/7 monitoring centre if the system is tampered with or a thief attempts to move the car without your consent. Furthermore, recovering the vehicle is far easier with a car tracker installed.
Overall, car trackers can ensure the safety of your car in multiple ways. Such as the following:
Theft recovery.
Geofence alerts
Tow away alerts
Tamper alerts
Driving without driver ID tag present (S5 trackers)
Optional immobilisation.
These are just some of the reasons why insurance companies highly favor installing car trackers.
Save money on your insurance with a Thatcham-approved tracker.
Installing a car tracker on your vehicle can help you to save money on your car insurance. Thatcham-approved and insurance-approved tracking systems can persuade your insurance company to give you a discount. This is because installing a car tracker in your vehicle means enhanced security, thus less risk that that your insurer will have to pay out for a total-loss claim.
Car trackers fitted by Infiniti Tracking: The best solution for you!
Are you looking for the best car tracker installation company in the UK? Infiniti Tracking are your go-to solution in this regard. Infiniti Tracking have a team of certified, expert installers who can visit you to efficiently install your tracker to your vehicle. You can find a variety of insurance-approved tracking systems from all the major brands on our website. Our prices are among the best you’ll find too!
Teletrac Trackstar S7: This car tracker is approved by big vehicle brands and comes with a smartphone app for more convenient tracking.
ScorpionTrack DRIVER S5 VTS: This car tracker comes with driver ID tags, a lifetime subscription option and 24/7 control room monitoring.
Tracker Locate: This car tracker features VHF anti-jamming technology, which can let you track it in shipping containers.
Find out how Infiniti Tracking can help protect your vehicle by calling us on: 0330 043 3993
5 Ways to Better Protect Your Vehicles When They’re Not in Use
Motoring organisations including the AA are issuing warnings to vehicle owners over the security of their cars that are parked at residential residences for longer than usual as a result of travel restrictions. With less police on the streets, it is giving thieves the opportunity to window-shop their targets, then strike when the timing’s right for them.
5 Ways to Protect Vehicles that Aren’t Being Used as Frequently
Keep key fobs in a sealed tin, in a drawer that’s away from doors
A poll by the AA in 2018 revealed that as much as 1 in 10 modern car owners thought their car was theft-proof. There is no such thing. Keyless entry heightened security for a bit, but only for a short period, then determined thieves figured out how to do Relay Attacks. Rather than protecting your car keys from physical theft, key fobs need signal protection and that can be done with metal tins provided it has an airtight seal. Other options include storing your keys in a protective pouch that acts as a faraday cage, blocking the signal being sent from the key to the car.
Protect Yourself from Frosting Theft
British winters are so cold that car theft in Britain in the winter has its own term – frosting. It’s the term used to describe the easiest of car thefts by thieves with the patience to wait until a vehicle owner starts the car, leaves the keys in the ignition, and then returns to the warmth of their home to have their cuppa while the car defrosts.
It can be tempting, but it will leave your vehicle with zero theft protection and in all likelihood, your insurance policy invalidated because most insurers have clauses that void policies on the grounds of “recklessness”, which is what insurers consider to be when car owners leave their car unattended with the keys in the ignition.
The simplest, but far from the cosiest solution for winter driving, is to prepare for the colder winter mornings. Allow more time in the mornings to defrost the car, layer your clothes in the colder mornings so you can stay with your car while the engine’s running. In instances when you need to just ‘nip out for a minute’, such as if you’re picking up a takeaway, or stopping to post a letter, still take the usual security precautions by locking the car before you turn your back on it. It only takes seconds for a thief to hop in, lock the door and drive away.
Consider Secure Parking for Vehicles You Don’t Plan to Drive for a While
With travel restrictions in place and caravan sites unable to open, owners of caravans and motorhomes are finding the vehicles out of commission and uncertain when they’ll be in use again. Seasonal caravan and motorhome storage facilities can provide an enhanced level of security such as CCTV and gated entry. The Caravan Storage Site Owner’s Association (CaSSOA) has a registry of over 500 secure sites for caravans and motorhomes. Check your local area too because there are some sites opening their gates to rent secure storage areas in locations with CCTV and additional security such as lighting and security fencing.
Keep Valuables Out of Sight
If an opportunistic thief passes your car and sees designer sunglasses left on the dash, a sat nav system, purse, wallet, handbag, or even a chemist bag on the passenger seat with potentially valuable prescription drugs, they won’t be thinking about how to get in with minimal damage. They see the opportunity for a fast smash and grab for quick and easy cash. You’ll be left with the repair bill and likely something of lesser value stolen.
If you absolutely need to keep items in your car, keep it in the boot, the glove box, or under the seat where it can’t be seen. For items stored outside the car, such as roof-racks, tailgate racks and rooftop boxes, secure those too. Preferably though, don’t keep valuables in or on your car, especially if you can’t hide them.
Upgrade Your Cars Security System with Thatcham-Approved Devices
Thieves know about car trackers and don’t always pay attention to stickers on car windows that warn potential thieves that the vehicle is fitted with a tracking system. Those stickers can be bought cheaply. What is becoming increasingly common is for a car to be stolen, driven a short distance and parked up for a week or longer to see if anyone tracks its location and recovers it. The Thatcham S5 tracker provides post-theft tracking and recovery and has a remote immobiliser, whereas the Thatcham S7 tracker doesn’t have the remote immobiliser, but will provide you with your vehicles location if it is stolen.
Vehicle trackers can be theft deterrents; however, a much bigger benefit is that if someone does try to steal your vehicle, you will have a much higher likelihood of your vehicle being recovered, and before it reaches a chop shop where it’s likely to be stripped for parts.
Whether you need better security for a car, motorhome, or a caravan, Infiniti Tracking have Insurance-Approved trackers and a team of Thatcham-Accredited Engineers providing nationwide coverage.
Find out how we can help you by calling our vehicle security advisors on: 0330 043 3993.
How Businesses Can Better Protect Vehicle Fleets
Research shows that businesses with fleets of vehicles experience at least one theft per year, averaging losses of £16,000 either due to the vehicle theft itself, or the equipment stored in the vehicle or trailer. Businesses with more than 100 vehicles experience on average three thefts per year, costing upwards of £50,000. ONS data on vehicle-related theft show that it continues to rise at rate of roughly 7% year-on-year.
Alarmingly, the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA), which keeps records on assets being moved in regions across the EMEA showed the UK had the highest value of cargo losses in 2020. One of the largest cargo thefts was worth €8,788,000 and that was recorded as a “violent theft of computers and laptops from a truck in Nuneaton, UK” on 9th March, 2020. Later that month, two trailers filled with £13,000 worth of toilet rolls were stolen from Walsall, UK. In Dumfries and Galloway, a theft of an unloaded trailer cost €64,557, (around £57,500) which goes to show that the losses from the trailer theft can, in some instances, far exceed the cost of the cargo it’s loaded with.
Vehicle Trackers Can Help to Protect Vehicle Fleets, Cargo, and Drivers
The vast majority of vehicle fleets are not equipped with the technology available to assist in recovery by tracking the vehicles location. Moreover, in addition to theft protection, a number of technological solutions for vehicle fleets provide businesses with a high level of data that can be used to lower operational costs substantially.
As an example, the ScorpionTrack Fleet technology can be used to track stolen vehicles, but rather than only provide businesses with a theft recovery device, it’s designed to give fleet managers intelligent data that can be used to increase cost efficiency…
Geo-Fencing for Virtual Security Perimeters
Wherever you store your company vehicles, machinery (powered or unpowered assets) trailers and equipment in a fenced yard or open ground, virtual fences can be set up to send a notification when any of your equipment moves beyond the virtual perimeter set within your fleet tracking software. This can be used to protect vehicles and trailers on-site by sending an alert notification that a trailer or vehicle is being moved off the site.
Real-Time Asset Tracking
Tracking stolen property benefits hugely from real-time tracking but for managing your fleet with devices plugged into the OBD port, telematics data can be also be viewed showing the speed the vehicle’s traveling at, driver behaviour, location data, and the journey history can be recorded, too. Historical journey data can then be used to optimise route planning, helping to drive down fuel costs.
Remote Immobilisation for Faster Asset Recovery
Fleet tracking solutions can be customised to suit business requirements, including fitting truck cabs and other company vehicles with remote immobilisers. With this technology, fleet managers can remotely shut-down vehicles. Once activated, it doesn’t automatically shut the engine off, but instead, disables everything the next time the vehicle comes to a stop. For any vehicle that usually has high value cargo on-board, being able to remotely disable the vehicle can help recover stolen goods faster, before thieves get a chance to off-load them.
Find out how Infiniti Tracking can help protect your businesses most valuable assets with fleet tracking solutions by calling us on: 0330 043 3993
How an Independently Fitted Thatcham Car Tracker Can Lower Insurance
Fancy getting the same level of cover for less money? That’s the easy part. Just don’t rest on your laurels by letting your car insurance auto-renew. That’s almost always guaranteed to be the priciest option.
Instead, take advantage of technology that sends alerts to every insurance company (apart from Direct Line) and have them send a flurry of competitive quotes to your inbox.
The Swift Part
Rather than you getting quotes from multiple insurers, take advantage of comparison sites that send notifications to the quote engines insurers already have to let them know that you’re ready to break ties with your current insurer.
The main four comparison sites are:
1) Confused.com
2) Money Supermarket
3) Compare the Market
4) Go Compare
In addition to the above, Direct Line should also be included because, as the name implies, they only give quotes directly as they don’t pay comparison sites to be listed, so the only way to get a quote is to use the website at DirectLine.com.
Filling in the Questions…
Each site you visit will have you go through the same series of questions… Your personal details, number of years no claims bonus, any claims in the past five or so years, etc. and the all-important vehicle security questions, including where you park it overnight, during the day, and the details of any security devices fitted to the car, one being, if it has a Thatcham-Approved vehicle tracker or immobiliser fitted to the vehicle, and if it’s factory-fitted.
If you’re unfamiliar with what devices are installed in your vehicle, the details will be in the vehicle handbook. Generally speaking, any model manufactured in the UK or the EU after 1998 must have an approved immobiliser installed. The only alarm systems with tracking capabilities recognised by insurers are Thatcham S5 Car Trackers and Thatcham S6 and S7 Vehicle Trackers, provided they are installed by a certified installer. Other types of factory-fitted security devices aren’t likely to affect premiums as much.
The Difference Between Factory Fitted Security Devices and Independently Installed Trackers…
Factory-fitted devices are not as secure because they’re usually located in the same place in all the vehicles. Once thieves know where to locate the tracking devices installed by the manufacturer, that make and model becomes a hot target for thieves. Unsurprisingly, 10 of the most stolen models of cars in Britain were also the ones with the most sales. Once thieves figure out where a new model has the security devices installed, it’s more likely they’ll go after the same model again.
An independently Fitted Thatcham-Approved Car Tracker is an Upgrade worth Considering!
Independent installers are careful to fit car trackers in discreet locations that are in the most difficult to access area of the vehicle. One of the most important aspects is not just the type of device that’s being fitted but ensuring that it is fitted in a way that’s as tamper-resistant as possible. Depending on the device, some can even be set up to send out tamper alerts.
Whether you’re looking to bolster the security of a popular Ford car, or heighten the security of a Land Rover with an independently fitted Thatcham Approved Tracker, Infiniti Tracking can help.
Think your car has good security or it isn’t worth knicking? Data revealed by the DVLA in a FOI request reveals some surprising statistics about the number of vehicle thefts in the UK.
In 2019, over 50,000 cars were stolen. The vast majority of those were in three main regions: Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and West Midlands accounted for over 40%. Across Britain, the total number of car thefts equated to an average of 154 thefts daily. The majority were pinched on weeknights between midnight and 6am, having been swiped from dimly lit areas such as cars parked on the street, or in poorly lit car parks.
10 Most Knicked Cars in Britain
1. Ford Fiesta
2. Land Rover Range Rover
3. Volkswagon Golf
4. Ford Focus
5. BMW 3 Series
6. Vauxhall Astras
7. Land Rover Discovery
8. Mercedes Benz E Class
9. BMW 5 Series
10. Audi A3
Only two in five of the cars stolen were returned to their owners, and in the majority of cases, there was damage, and more often than not, the damage was so significant it resulted in the car being written off. The data also revealed that 94% of the vehicles targeted by thieves had no vehicle trackers installed, and out of the thousands of vehicles stolen across the country, only 11% were newer models, but keyless entry cars were still being targeted.
Still Think Your Vehicle isn’t at Risk?
It’s not just the cars that thieves are after. It’s the parts, the electronics, the valuables that owners leave in their cars. Thieves aren’t your average teenager knicking a car to take for a joyride. They’re organised, sophisticated criminal gangs stealing cars to order.
As one cop explained to Auto Express, car theft is low on the priority of an understaffed police force. Pinning down the bosses of crime gangs is difficult. Just this year, one joint police force operation found 90 stolen vehicles and parts, £180,000 in cash and a cannabis farm. That was only one operation that resulted in just 17 arrests, and a total value of the vehicles recovered adding up to a staggering £1.1 million.
3 Methods of Vehicle Theft You Need to Guard Against
Ever wonder how your car keys work? How far the signals it sends out can travel? Do you even think about where you sit your keys when you get inside? A hook on the wall in the hall is not a smart move!
Discover the three techniques organised crime gangs are using to steal vehicles that are difficult to defend against. Once you know the tactics, take the recommended steps for vehicle theft prevention to save yourself from becoming a target of a high-tech criminal.
3 Methods of Modern-Day Thievery
Key Cloning and Key Theft
Whether you have old-school car keys or electronic key fobs, they are at risk at being stolen. Older keys need to be physically stolen, but they can also be copied. Electronic key clones do the exact same thing as having an old car key cut. It clones the signals and the unique pairing code on the key fob, creating an identical second key.
Where people let their guard down is handing the car keys to strangers without thinking. Places thieves tend to target are valet services, car washes and garages. The places where you might hand your keys to a member of staff. It only takes seconds to clone an electronic key fob. The car may not be stolen right away, but instead left for months before the key is used. This makes it tricky for owners to recall where the key could have been cloned. When it happens, people think about the most recent events. Not what happened out the ordinary months back.
Relay Theft
Relay theft is a problem on new vehicles with keyless entry. This technique requires planning so this is not an opportunistic theft scenario. It is organised crime. Stealing a vehicle by relay needs at least two people and the technology to pull it off. One person will position themselves near to where the vehicle key fob is and use a signal booster to amplify the signal, which is then relayed to a second device that the partner in the operation has and they’ll use the signal to open and start the vehicle.
Security precautions you can take to defend against relay attacks is to keep your key fob away from doors and windows, and there are also faraday bags for car keys you can get that are signal blocking. These bags work the same as RFID wallets do to prevent contactless cards being cloned by blocking Radio Frequencies. In the same way, the faraday bags block the signal from your keys.
“Handout still from CCTV footage issued by West Midlands Police of two men using relay boxes to steal a Mercedes parked on a driveway in the Elmdon area of Solihull, West Midlands. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday November 26, 2017. Footage has been released of one of the first “relay crimes” to be caught on camera – where thieves can steal a car without needing keys. “
OBD Theft
Every vehicle has On Board Diagnostics (OBD) and it’s a huge weakness because all that’s needed to reprogram the OBD-II port is a blank programmable key fob and a pick lock. Gain entry to the vehicle, plug into the OBD port, reprogram the on-board computer, and the system can be hacked to trick the vehicle computer into thinking it has been connected with the authentic key. Thieves can gain entry into a vehicle, start it up and drive off with it in under two minutes.
No matter how secure you think your vehicle is, chances are, the keys to the vehicle are the weakest link. It is more difficult to prevent vehicle theft, but it is not more difficult to protect your assets.
Smart vehicle trackers are designed to be discreet and wireless, so as not to need connecting to the vehicle’s on-board computer. This way, even if a vehicle is stolen with a reprogrammable fob, the owner can alert the authorities of the precise vehicle location, they can intercept it faster, and get the vehicle returned to its rightful owner with minimal damage.
While you may struggle to defend against the new-age tactics of criminals, you can use next-gen technology to keep up and track your vehicle’s movements should the security be compromised.
When the season’s done and you’re ready to park your motorhome, or caravan up until next Spring, security is priority. The UK has a seen a sharp rise across the country in the theft of leisure vehicles so to help you protect yours, take a read of our top tips for securing your motorhome or caravan.
Invest in Locks Approved by Sold Secure or Secured by Design
Sold Secure is owned Master Locksmiths Association, which is the UK’s largest body that advises the insurance industry about secure products based on their testing. Secured by Design is a security initiative by the Police.
Lock manufacturers with the Gold Standard Sold Secure label indicates that the lock has a high level of resistance against theft. In practical terms, it will take longer for a thief to break it.
Don’t stop with the steering wheel lock though. Too many motorhome owners only view the steering wheel lock as a deterrent. They will make a would-be thief think-twice about trying to steal the vehicle because it will take longer, making it higher risk. Up the ante by installing a gear lock, clutch claw lock, a wheel clamp, and for motorhomes with turning seats, you can also angle the seat and secure it with a bike chain and padlock to prevent the driver’s seat being usable without busting another lock.
If you’re securing your motorhome on a site or secure parking facility with CCTV and perimeter fencing for longer-term, it’s worthwhile taking the extra precautions because not all secure sites have manned CCTV or security patrols on-site. Most have CCTV recording, in which case, thieves have longer to plan their moves. Make sure your vehicle looks like the most difficult. You won’t need every type of lock but every one you use is an extra deterrent.
Install a Folding and Lockable Security Post/Bollard
Bollards are ideal as they can be folded down when not in use, and locked in place when your motorhome is parked up. These are solid and should be securely fastened to the ground, preferably by a professional. Ideally, install them as close to the vehicle as possible to prevent the vehicle being manoeuvred around it. If a thief has the space to manoeuvre, they will not hesitate to drive your motorhome over the lawn, through a fence, or ram through locked gates.
If your driveway is large with space either side, it may be worth investing in one for the front and rear of the vehicle.
VIN CHIP and CRIS Registrations for Caravans and Motorhomes Built before 2016
VIN CHIP is installed on newer motorhomes and caravans built from 2016 onwards. If you have a model pre-dating 2016, the VIN CHIP scheme is being rolled out across more police forces. In 2020, North Wales police introduced the scheme and later in August 2020, it was rolled out by Cheshire Police Constabulary following an increase in caravan and motorhome thefts in the Chester and Ellesmere Port areas.
The VIN CHIP scheme is low-cost and involves installing RFID chips discreetly at random locations within the motorhome or caravan. The tags contain information relating to the vehicle’s chassis number, registered keeper, and the make and model. Police have readers that can scan the information on the chips on moving vehicles traveling up to 60 mph, making it easier for them to identify and recover stolen vehicles. The downside is, the police need to first find the stolen vehicle, then use the reader to confirm it is stolen.
Install a Motorhome Tracker
The vast majority of motorhome thefts are being done electronically. Tech-savvy thieves are using programmable devices to plug into the OBD (on board diagnostics) system to override the immobiliser. Every motorhome has an OBD. It’s the Blackbox that’s usually found under the dashboard on the driver’s side. The purpose is to collect and store all the telematics data that a mechanic needs to service the vehicle and perform any diagnostics or repairs.
A port lock can be installed over the OBD to block access or as a delay tactic, it can also be repositioned to another location with a fake OBD box installed in its place. A much better alternative that’s also easier is to install a backup immobiliser that’s completely independent to the OBD system.
A great Motorhome Tracker that also has a built in immobiliser, and is developed particularly to combat modern theft methods is the the Meta Trak S5 Deadlock. One of the most comprehensive vehicle security systems available on the market today, the Meta Trak S5 Deadlock combines advanced immobilisation, driver ID tags, next-generation tracking and 24/7 control room monitoring.
Insurance-approved to meet Thatcham’s strict CAT-5 and S5 criteria, the Meta Trak S5 Deadlock works with driver ID tags. The system will alert the secure control centre if the vehicle is moved without the ID tags within proximity. Live tracking is available at your fingertips 24/7 via smartphone app and web portal. Contact Infiniti Tracking today.
With tech-savvy criminals reverse engineering manufacturer security protocols, enabling them to steal vehicles with relative ease, drivers are having to get creative at protecting one of their largest assets from theft.
Not just theft of the vehicle but the parts on the vehicle too. In 2018, AA insurance had 32 claims for stolen catalytic converters. In 2019, that rose sharply to 393. In 2020, it’s risen so sharply that one police force issued a stark warning to Leicester drivers to be extra vigilant after recording 618 incidents of this type of theft.
3 Effective Ways to Protect Your Vehicle, It’s Part, and Your Insurance Premiums
1) Install Dash Cams and Park Where There’s CCTV Footage
Dash cams that have Motion Detection Recording will begin recording when motion in front of the camera is detected. Video surveillance is a huge deterrent to criminals. When you’re out and about, it’s always best to park somewhere that’s covered by CCTV.
Home video surveillance equipment is available to cover vehicles parked in driveways and if you need to use street parking that doesn’t have CCTV, dash cams with motion detection recording are your next best security measure.
When you have these installed, it is advisable to have visible notices on your vehicle stating that it is equipped with “Dash Cam Recording” as that can be a deterrent to criminals.
2) Guard Your Catalytic Convertor
It really has reached a stage when the parts on your car needs to be kept in a cage. As noted earlier, there is a surge in the theft of catalytic converters. This is being attributed to the rising cost of precious metals. Without guards around this vital part of a vehicle, thieves can jack your car up, get under it and be away with a catalytic converter in one-minute. The cost to fit a replacement can be in excess of £1,000.
Admiral Insurance have reported the most susceptible vehicles being targeted are hybrid vehicles, primarily because the metal doesn’t erode as fast. Criminals tend to be targeting specific vehicles, notably, the Honda Jazz, Toyota Prius and Auris, and the Lexus RX.
Toyota have released the CATLOC device, designed to fit around Toyota catalytic convertors and most garages can fit them. Universal Catalytic Convertor locks are also available for other brands.
Older models have higher amounts of metal (palladium, rhodium and platinum). A single catalytic converter can have 7 grams of precious metals able to fetch hundreds of pounds. Local garages can fit guards around a vehicles catalytic converter to prevent the lucrative and essential part being stolen.
3) Have Your Vehicle Fitted with a Tilt Activated Alarm
Car alarms are a vital deterrent to any type of theft; however, the majority of alarms are limited to door sensors and impact sensors. Tilt sensors are designed to activate in the event someone tries to tow the vehicle. With the majority of valuable parts being located under the vehicle, tilt sensors are becoming more valuable as they will be activated if a thief elevates the vehicles height so they can get under to steal parts
The Ultimate in Vehicle Security…
Determined thieves will overcome many of the deterrents you try, which is why it’s becoming increasingly common for vehicle trackers to be installed. Some insurers even insist on it. This ensures that if a determined criminal does manage to steal your vehicle, its movements can be tracked, and dependent on the model of vehicle tracker installed, it may even be possible to remotely immobilise the vehicle. Contact Infiniti Tracking today.
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