Tracker helps owners to protect their investment both on the road and at home
Whilst summer can be the perfect time for classic car enthusiasts to take their beloved vehicles for a spin, or start working on new restoration projects, Tracker Network (UK) Ltd, the stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) expert, is reminding owners that the season can also present a higher risk of theft.
Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison at Tracker, comments on how classic car enthusiasts can protect their vehicles this summer. “The warmer months are always the most popular for classic car owners to showcase their prized possessions, but unfortunately this also means they need to be more vigilant. Although classic cars have always been a target for opportunistic thieves, they are gaining popularity with organised criminals due to their attractiveness as financial investments. This is because of their dramatic rise in value in recent years. Experts predict that a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR that recently sold at auction for £115 million is set to be a game-changer for the classics market, driving values even higher. Unfortunately, this ultimately makes them a bigger target.”
Classic cars typically lack the security features of modern cars and can be easily broken into, hotwired or towed away. Nor do they benefit from sophisticated identification markings of newer vehicles, meaning vehicle identities are much easier to alter, thus making them harder to trace. Although a lot of classic cars are not for everyday use and often kept in storage or under wraps, owners taking advantage of longer sunnier days to take their cherished vehicles for a spin, risk exposing them to the watchful eye of professional thieves primed to steal on demand.
Even more heart breaking for owners, reports Tracker, is the fact that the majority of stolen classic cars will be stripped down for parts, unless they are tracked and recovered within the first 24 hours of being stolen. Hotspot theft areas tend to be in the Southeast, due to the speed at which vehicles can be moved to ports and then shipped to Europe and beyond.
Clive Wain concludes, “Despite the warnings, many owners who have lovingly restored their pride and joy, fail to protect them with a tracking device, significantly reducing the chances of being reunited with the car in the event of it being stolen. For a small investment, a tracking device significantly increases the chances of a classic car being found and returned to its rightful owner. Simple precautions can be taken to protect these vehicles, starting with our top security tips to stop thieves in their tracks.”
Tracker’s Classic Car Security Tips
- Park in busy or well-lit and attended car parks near CCTV cameras
- Never leave the keys in the car or garage
- Ensure the doors are locked, the sunroof and windows are closed
- Don’t leave valuables such as phones and bags in view, but if you have no choice, leave them out of sight in the locked boot
- If you have a garage, use it, if not park a modern car in front of the classic car on the drive, as it is harder to steal
- Invest in an immobiliser and Tracker device for added protection and to reduce insurance premiums
- A car alarm is essential as classics are easier to break into
- At home, don’t keep keys in a place where they can be seen or accessed from outside
