Thousands of UK car owners and fleet managers have to deal with the theft of their vehicles annually. More than 130,000 vehicles were stolen in the 2022/2023 financial year, leading to significant financial losses and transport inconveniences. Many UK businesses also had to deal with logistical and operation challenges caused by vehicle theft, which impacted their service delivery capabilities and profits.
It is especially high-value vehicles that are targeted and stolen by car thieves. Statistics show that sportscars, delivery vans and camper vans are at the top of vehicle theft and recovery lists. Therefore, if you own or manage highly-targeted, high-end vehicles, you must boost your vehicle security to prevent theft.
By parking in well-lit public areas, keeping valuable items out of sight and adopting some advanced security measures, like car tracking systems, drivers can keep their cars secure.
In this article, we will look at how vehicle theft can impact vehicle owners and fleet managers. We will also discuss the various ways to enhance your vehicle’s security and safety by using easy-to-implement strategies and insurance-approved vehicle trackers.
Basic Security Measures
Private vehicle owners and fleet managers can use the following easy and low-cost ways to improve the security of their vehicles:
Parking Safely
Parking vehicles in low-light and secluded areas can lead to break-ins and vehicle theft. Therefore, always choose a well-lit and safe area or car park to park your vehicle. Even if you park in an area for a short period, ensure the vehicle is visible to deter criminals. Park your vehicle in a public area with heavy foot traffic to reduce its chances of being targeted by thieves.
Also, always lock your vehicle before leaving it. Additionally, it is good practice to double-check the handles to make sure that it is locked properly. Criminals are becoming more innovative and can use electronic remote jamming to prevent vehicles from locking. They can then access these vehicles and steal valuables or the car when the driver walks off.
Therefore, always ensure that all the car’s doors and windows are locked and closed to prevent theft.
Keeping Valuables Hidden
Criminals more often target and break into vehicles that have valuables stored in plain sight. Not only do you lose your valuable possessions, but many motorists also have to fork out a lot of cash afterwards to replace broken car windows.
Therefore, always ensure that you store valuables out of sight. Take your laptop, mobile phones, and bags with you or lock them in your vehicle’s covered boot.
Advanced Security Measures
The following advanced security measures can be used to keep your car extra secure from criminals:
Steering Wheel Locks
Steering wheel locks are a very effective crime deterrent. These devices are fitted over your vehicle’s steering wheel and prevent the vehicle from being steered if it’s stolen. Many criminals avoid vehicles with steering wheel locks as they are cumbersome and time-consuming to remove.
Keyless Entry
Using a keyless entry system on your car can also deter thieves. These remote-locking devices use short-range radio transmitters to lock and unlock your vehicle when the fob is nearby. Additionally, without the fob present in the vehicle, the car will not start. Criminals avoid vehicles with keyless entry systems because they are difficult to break into and start.
Insurance-Approved Trackers
High-value vehicle owners and fleet managers can improve vehicle security by installing insurance company-approved trackers.
Using a high-tech car tracker in your vehicle holds the following benefits:
- Deters theft: Most thieves avoid breaking into and stealing vehicles with a car tracker installed.
- Reduces insurance premiums: Many insurance providers offer their clients lower insurance premiums if they have an industry-approved tracker fitted.
- Real-time GPS tracking: Using continuously updated GPS location data, car trackers offer easy remote monitoring and tracking of private and fleet vehicles.
- Helps track and recover stolen vehicles: Authorities and vehicle tracking companies use the tracker’s built-in GPS tracking capabilities to locate, track and recover stolen vehicles.
- Prevents unauthorised vehicle access: Many car trackers also offer automatic driver recognition functionality. Using a driver identification tag, these systems prevent unauthorised individuals from accessing, starting and operating vehicles, especially in company settings.
- Remote immobilisation: By using a smartphone app or going online, fleet managers and car powers can remotely immobilise a stolen vehicle, preventing it from being driven far away.
- Allows geofencing functionality: Some car trackers enable fleet managers to set virtual boundaries in which fleet vehicles can operate. Managers are then notified if vehicles enter or exit specific geographic locations.
Crystal Ball’s range of cost-effective, insurance-approved trackers is a surefire way to protect high-value vehicles from theft.
These three Thatcham insurance-approved trackers are rigorously tested per the highest industry standards and are offered by Crystal Ball:
Thatcham S7 Tracker
The cost-effective Thatcham S7 insurance-approved vehicle tracker is particularly a great security tool for keeping fleet and camper vans safe. With round-the-clock monitoring, it features a tow and tamper alert system to notify owners of potential unauthorised movement or tampering with the vehicle. The tracker comes with a mobile app for easy access and monitoring, and it includes nationwide installation services. This makes the S7 an efficient choice for basic vehicle tracking and security needs.
Thatcham S5 Tracker
The S5 Tracker includes all the features of the S7, such as insurance approval, 24/7 monitoring, tow and tamper alerts, a mobile app, and nationwide installation. It additionally offers an unauthorised driver alert system, which operates through a driver recognition card. This extra layer of security makes the S5 suitable for users seeking more advanced protection against vehicle theft and unauthorised usage.
Thatcham S5 Plus Tracker
Building upon the S5’s capabilities, the S5 Plus Tracker offers all the aforementioned features, including insurance approval, continuous monitoring, tow and tamper alerts, mobile app integration, and nationwide installation. It also includes the unauthorised driver alert with a driver card. The standout feature of the S5 Plus is its ability to immobilise the vehicle when the driver card is not present, providing an additional security measure against theft. This makes the S5 Plus ideal for those requiring the highest level of vehicle security and theft prevention.
Conclusion
High-value vehicles such as sportscars, campervans or fleet vans are some of the most commonly stolen vehicles in the UK. Therefore, it is imperative that owners and fleet managers enhance the security of their high-value vehicles to deter potential break-ins and car theft.
Safety measures – such as parking cars in well-lit and safe areas and storing valuables out of sight – can help many car owners keep their vehicles safe. Vehicle owners can also use keyless entry systems and steering wheel locks to deter criminals.
However, one of the most effective ways to prevent vehicle theft is to install insurance-approved vehicle tracking systems in high-value personal or fleet vehicles. These trackers significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to vehicle theft and break-ins. They can also reduce monthly insurance instalments and help with the quicker location and recovery of stolen vehicles.
To find out more, contact Crystal Ball and request a demo to learn how our range of Thatcham insurance-approved vehicle trackers can help improve your fleet vehicle security.