If you’ve read one of our previous blogs discussing the Top 10 Cities for car crime, then you might have been surprised that Leicester was number one. You might conclude that you’re safe if you live in the south but sadly, you’re out of luck. Slough in Berkshire was number two on the list! If you thought living down the road from the Queen would keep your vehicle safe, think again.
Between May 2021 and April 2022, statistics from the Home Office showed that there were a massive 5138 car crimes reported across Berkshire, including the key county towns of Slough, Reading, Chalvey and Upton. Despite the advances in car security, it seems that the equipment you get as standard, even in brand new cars, isn’t enough to keep your car out of their thieving hands.
HOW THIEVES STEAL YOUR CAR
As technology within even the most modest family car gets more and more advanced, so do the techniques thieves use to whisk your pride and joy away from you. You don’t have to live in any of the Top 10 areas for car crime to become a victim of it.
Many of the basic techniques you can use to prevent yourself from being a victim of car crime are still just as relevant today as they ever were. Make sure your vehicle’s doors are securely locked and that the windows and sunroof, if you have one, are also firmly shut.
Even if they don’t steal the car itself, many crimes involve the theft of registration plates, so make sure you have tamper-resistant screws fitted. If your car has alloy wheels, ensure you also have locking wheel nuts installed.
BEWARE THE RELAY ATTACK
As we mentioned earlier, the advances in car security have also given rise to a speight of car theft that uses cutting-edge technology to get around even the most sophisticated systems. This is where things like keyless entry have become the go-to tactic for many thieves.
Keyless entry theft, sometimes referred to as a relay attack, relies on the key fobs that many modern cars utilise instead of a physical key that goes into an ignition.
Using their own pieces of technology, thieves will position themselves between your key and car, usually by standing just outside your front door, and hijack the legitimate signal emitted from your fob, relaying the signal to your car, so it opens up and even allows itself to be started. Once that’s done, they simply drive away without you even noticing, until it’s too late of course.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Keyless entry thefts blur the lines between high-tech and low-tech. The equipment used is advanced, but the method isn’t. Thankfully you can easily protect yourself against it by keeping your car keys away from the front door to stop them from stealing the signal or, better still, keep them in a Faraday box which keeps the signal contained.
Should the worst happen and your car is stolen, whether it’s an all-time classic car or a cutting-edge luxury motor, you’re going to need something to help recover the vehicle quickly and safely. Car trackers are the way to go.
Having a device covertly installed on your car means that there will be no hiding place for them. We have a range of devices to suit every vehicle, from cars, motorbikes, vans and motorhomes and to fit every budget.
Whilst many share the same fantastic features like 24/7 control centre availability and dedicated apps with real-time alerts and notifications, some also come with the latest vehicle protections including Remote Immobilisation, ‘No-Tag-No-Start’ technology and multi-frequency tracking to make sure you always, ALWAYS know where your vehicle is.
With Infiniti Tracking in your corner you will:
⚬ Benefit from UK-wide fitting by our fully trained professional installation engineers.
⚬ A huge range of Thatcham and insurance-approved trackers for all cars, motorbikes, motorhomes and vans.
⚬ Find a tracker that suits your circumstances, vehicle and budget.
Whether you live in Slough, or anywhere else in the UK, we have a car tracker within our range of products for you. Our team are available from 9 am – 6 pm, Monday to Friday on 0330 043 3993 to help you choose and to arrange installation. We look forward to helping you on your journey from Berkshire to car security heaven!
Of all the iconic names associated with the motor vehicle industry, there are few that symbolise what the car’s impact on the world has been as much as Volkswagen, or VW as they’re often referred to. This German manufacturer has been making vehicles since its conception in 1937. In the years since, Volkswagen, meaning ‘People’s Car’, has grown from its roots in Nazi Germany, to become one of the most popular and most well-regarded manufacturers in the world.
Over the last 80 years or so, VW has created a stream of iconic vehicles from the original Beetle, their legendary Camper Van, known officially as the VW Transporter, right through to the modern age with the Golf GTi, Scirocco and the relaunched, reimagined Beetle, but that popularity comes at a price though.
The VW Golf alone is the 4th most stolen car in the UK, not surprising since it’s also one of the 10 best-selling cars in the UK in 2022.
PROTECT YOUR VW WITH A CAR TRACKER
Whether you’ve bought a brand new VW or a preloved one, you’re going to want to protect it and the best way to do that is with a car tracker. It can be daunting sifting through all the terminology and myriad of feature-sets, trying to work out which one suits you and your vehicle the best, especially with so many to choose from. Thankfully, that’s where Infiniti Tracking excels!
We’ve put together two of the best VW car trackers available to help you out, all of which are approved by Volkswagen themselves. Starting with…
META TRAK S7-ATS
Whilst the impact of not protecting your car is large, this tracker is one of the smallest out there but still packs some real power. The S7-ATS from Meta Trak isn’t just an incredible tracker from a highly-regarded company, it’s also approved by Volkswagen themselves. If you’re looking for a Thatcham and insurance-approved tracker, then this should definitely be on your radar.
Rated as S7 by security researchers Thatcham, the S7-ATS comes with all the features you would expect including a 24-hour control centre that helps monitor the location of your car at all times. The trackers also come with its own smartphone app that gives you access to real-time, real-world data and alerts including journey history, low battery, tamper and motion alerts. All designed to give you peace of mind that your car is where you left it and if not, exactly where it is so it can be recovered quickly and easily.
VODAFONE PROTECT AND CONNECT S5 VTS
Vodafone might not be a name you immediately associate with car trackers, but their Automotive decision makes some amazing systems, including this Protect and Connect device. It meets Thatcham’s highest S5 criteria for car security so you know you’re getting something special. It’s also another system approved by the good people at VW.
Being a S5-rated system means that it comes with some features you won’t find on S7 trackers including Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) tags. These fantastic pieces of technology give you even more control. Designed to be kept on your person, they transmit an encrypted wireless signal unique to your vehicle. Essentially, this means that your car will only start when these tags are within range of the vehicle, if not, the car remains immobilised. If an attempt to start the car without a tag being present occurs, the alarm will be triggered.
In addition to ADR, you get all the alerts and notifications you would expect including low battery and disconnection alerts and even blocking alerts. All these features and more are easily managed with its dedicated app and backed up by their 24-hour control centre.
GO THE EXTRA MILE
It’s worth pointing out that if you’ve bought a new VW, then you’ll already know it comes with Volkswagen’s own We-Connect app. You might think that this negates the need for a car tracker, but that’s not the case. It’s true that the We-Connect app can help you find your car, but it’s really more aimed at locating it in a huge car park; it’s called ‘Parking Position’ after all. Yes, it can find its location, but it relies on you actively checking the app. This won’t be much use if you’re away, or asleep, and the first time you realise your car’s been stolen is 8 hours after the fact.
⚬ Benefit from UK-wide fitting by our fully trained professional installation engineers.
⚬ Choose from a full range of Thatcham and insurance-approved trackers for all cars, motorbikes, motorhomes and vans.
⚬ If you change your vehicle,easily transfer your tracker from your old car to the new one.
Whether you have a Volkswagen or any other type of car for that matter, we are sure to have a car tracker that meets your needs. Take a look at the fantastic range of products we have in our online store and, when you’re ready to take the next step, or just need a friendly, knowledgeable voice to talk to help you choose, give our team a call on 0330 043 3993. We’re open 9 am – 6 pm, Monday to Friday, and we’d be delighted to help you. We also offer nationwide installation delivered at a time and place to suit you whether you drive a VW or not!
Car theft has been a blight on the UK for decades, but according to a Freedom of Information request to the DVLA in Swansea, the LE2 postcode in Leicester had the highest number of car thefts in the UK in 2021. In that one postcode alone, the Police recording 342 thefts of vehicles, almost one per day over the course of a year.
If you live in or around Leicester, or elsewhere in the UK, then there’s never been a better time to protect your vehicle with a car tracker from the team here at Infiniti. Whether you’ve got a top-of-range luxury car or a family car you all rely on, car security has become not only a necessity but something you can get regardless of your budget.
HOW ARE VEHICLES TARGETED?
The type of cars stolen aren’t just the higher-end models you would normally associate with car theft. The models taken by thieves are spread throughout the vehicular spectrum, but it’s interesting to note that the vehicles in the target differ.
Luxury cars like BMW, Range Rover, Jaguar and Porsche attract thieves who steal to order. This means that gangs specifically target certain types of cars that have been ordered by their customers, often with the car thieves travelling from one area to the next to accomplish their shopping list. Sometimes these lists can get very specific, often looking at limited edition models, design, colour or even specifications. Luxury cars aren’t the only temptations.
Many of the cars stolen come from some of the most popular manufacturers like Ford, VW and Vauxhall. These warriors of the road cars are often at the heart of family life and play a key part in getting the kids to school, the work commute and general day-to-day activities. These make up the majority of the vehicles stolen, with the Ford Fiesta, VW Golf and the Corsa from Vauxhall taking up the top three slots on Leicester’s most-stolen cars, so how do you protect yourself?
HOW TO PREVENT YOUR CAR FROM BEING STOLEN
One of the most effective and increasingly-common ways to avoid your car being stolen is with a vehicle tracking system. These amazing systems not only act as a deterrent to thieves, but they also massively increase the chance of recovering your vehicle quickly and safely should the worst happen.
We have a fantastic range of both S5 and S7 trackers to suit any car and any budget, no matter where you live. All of them offer a wealth of features and most come with a free smartphone app that puts the power of the system right in the palm of your hand. These systems are also backed up by a 24/7 control centre offering you complete peace of mind to know your vehicle is secured at home, at the office or even in LE2!
THE BIGGEST NAMES IN CAR SECURITY
Here at Infiniti, we pride ourselves on providing the highest level of customer service and can come to you anywhere in the UK at a time that’s convenient to you. We sell trackers from all the best car security manufacturers including Tracker, TrackStar, MetaTrak and Vodafone Automotive. Whether you want an S7 or the higher specification of the S5, you’re sure to find one that suits you and your circumstance.
⚬ UK-wide fitting by qualified, professional installers.
⚬ A range of trackers to suit any car, budget or location.
⚬ Easily transfer your tracker from one car to another.
To find out more about any of the products in our range, please give our team a call on 0330 043 3993 any time between 9 am and 6 pm, Monday to Friday, and we’ll help you find the best tracker for you and arrange the best time to come and install your new tracking, whether at home or work; whatever’s the most convenient to you. You don’t have to live in Leicester to be a victim of car crime!
