Tracker urges premium vehicle owners to use multi-layered security measures including tracking technology

With insurers reportedly [1] blacklisting high-end vehicles due to an increase in keyless car thefts, Tracker, the stolen vehicle recovery expert, is urging owners of keyless vehicles to use visual physical security measures to help protect their vehicles in addition to tracking technology.

Tracker analysis of car theft activity between January to June 2021 found:

• £1,950,910 worth of Land Rover and Range Rover models have been recovered
• £727,155 worth of other SUV models have been recovered
• May had the highest recovery month with £446,250 worth of Land Rover and Range Rover models recovered compared to £115,200 in January

How Tracker helps

Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison for Tracker commented: “The fact that high-end Land Rover and Range Rover cars account for 29% of all stolen vehicles recovered between January and June this year clearly demonstrates these prestige vehicles are being targeted by criminal gangs. When you look at the theft figures in the month of January compared to May, it clearly demonstrates the impact of lockdown and how the easing of restrictions fuelled the increase in vehicles being stolen.

“Only last month, we recovered a ‘priceless’ stolen Land Rover Defender. The unique vehicle had a personalised memorial to the owner’s godson, Private Conrad Lewis, a British soldier who lost his life in Afghanistan. Without the support of the police and Tracker being fitted to the vehicle it will probably have never been recovered. Often stolen to order; these vehicles are frequently shipped abroad or stripped for parts in a chop shop to meet the growing demand for spare parts. While Range Rovers and Land Rovers have once again been popular cars for thieves this year, prestige SUVs across the board are becoming increasingly hard, or very expensive, to get insurance cover for.

“Thieves will always target vehicles with insufficient security, but sophisticated technology such as keyless entry systems are not deterring high-tech crooks. An important barrier to stop thieves is using traditional physical security devices like steering wheel locks and wheel clamps.  In addition, placing the key fob into a signal blocking pouch which is lined with layers of metallic material, will stop a key's signals from reaching the outside world. If these added security measures are taken, then it will be seen favourably by insurers.

“Another safety strategy to protect the car is to fit a tracking unit. Our S5 Plus product has a driver ID tag which alerts owners if their car is started and moved without the driver id tags present. This is particularly useful in the event of keyless car theft if a vehicle is started without the keys present. This can significantly improve the likelihood of a vehicle being recovered if it is stolen; while it won’t stop a car being stolen, it is the only way to increase the chances of it being returned to the rightful owner if this happens,” concludes Wain.