129,159 vehicles were stolen in the UK between April 2023 and March 2024. The same period saw 193,023 incidents of vehicles being broken into and 53,369 incidents of vehicle interference or tampering. If you’re looking to beef up the security of a vehicle, whether it’s a luxury car or a camper van, Crystal Ball’s Thatcham Tracker S5 is the way to do it.
Find out why you can trust Thatcham-approved trackers, why vehicle tracking is important, how our tracker’s advanced technology and features contribute to vehicle security, and how installing a tracker can benefit you with our Thatcham S5 review.
Thatcham and the Importance of Vehicle Tracking
Previously known as the Thatcham Category 5 tracker, our Thatcham Tracker S5 is one of three vehicle tracking systems approved by Thatcham Research. The company was established in 1969 to research vehicle safety and repair in a bid to reduce claims.
Since then, the company has evolved to include vehicle security in its focus and has become a driving force in developing and implementing vehicle tracking and recovery system standards. The Thatcham Tracker S5 features that make it a trusted choice are a result of the company’s collaboration with law enforcement, vehicle manufacturers, insurers, and the wider industry, and of continuous adaptation and rigorous testing processes.
Thatcham-approved vehicle trackers are powerful tools in the fight against car crime. If a thief manages to bypass your car alarm and immobiliser and steal your vehicle, you can track its location, share the details with the police, and recover it swiftly. However, given the Thatcham Tracker S5 benefits we’ll explore below, thieves might not even get that far.
Thatcham Tracker S5 Features and Technology
The robust Thatcham Tracker S5 features that enhance vehicle security work using sophisticated technology that can be integrated with your vehicle’s immobiliser system. The tracker works using GPS and GSM technology, motion-detecting technology, automatic driver recognition (ADR), optional remote immobilisation, and a secure mobile app displaying vehicle location and journey data. The Crystal Ball app is available for Android and iOS devices.
The tracker’s GPS technology offers precise location tracking in real time, while GSM technology enables communication between the tracker, you, and a 24-hour monitoring centre. Thanks to these features, you know where your car is at any given time, making recovery easy if it is ever stolen.
The Thatcham S5 tracker uses motion-detecting technology to send tow and tamper alerts. If your vehicle is ever moved without your consent or the tracking device is tampered with, the tracker will send a notification to the monitoring centre instantly, allowing the authorities to take swift action.
The tracker’s ADR works with a driver ID tag that you keep with you (on your keyring, for example). If this tag isn’t present when the vehicle moves, the tracking system interprets the movement as a potential theft and will send instant alerts to you and to the monitoring centre.
The option of remote mobilisation is one of the Thatcham Tracker S5’s benefits. If your vehicle has an immobiliser, you can choose to integrate the tracker with this system and access it via our mobile app. If you receive an alert that your vehicle has been stolen or is being tampered with, you can immobilise it to prevent the would-be thief from starting the engine.
Last but not least, the Thatcham S5 Tracker comes with free installation by Thatcham-approved engineers nationwide. No matter where you are in the UK, approved engineers will ensure that the system is installed in your vehicle correctly, provided that the Thatcham Tracker S5’s specifications align with your vehicle’s specifications. Once installed, the tracking system provides real-time location tracking in the UK and across Europe.
Thatcham Tracker S5 Benefits
Whether you’re considering installing Thatcham S5 trackers in your private vehicles or your commercial fleet, it could be one of the best decisions you ever make regarding vehicle security. The Thatcham Tracker S5 benefits you could reap include:
Real-time vehicle tracking: You can peruse your historical journeys and make savvy choices for optimising your routes and improving your fuel consumption. If loved ones use your vehicle and do not return home on time, you can see your vehicle’s location and, if necessary, send assistance.
Theft prevention: The mere fact that your vehicle is fitted with a Thatcham S5 tracker can be enough to deter would-be thieves from stealing your vehicle. Choosing to integrate the tracking system with your vehicle’s immobiliser adds another level of security.
Stolen vehicle recovery: If your vehicle is stolen, our Thatcham S5 tracker will provide you and the monitoring centre with its exact location, enabling the police to recover it.
Insurance benefits: As Thatcham Tracker S5 features are robust and approved by a trusted name in vehicle safety and security, many insurance providers offer discounted premiums to customers who install these trackers in their vehicles. Depending on your policy, you could receive discounts of between 5 and 15% or even as high as 25% on your monthly premiums.
Peace of mind: Knowing that you have a Thatcham S5 tracker to track and help protect your vehicle, enable you to keep an eye on your loved ones when they use your vehicle, and offer you other benefits brings peace of mind, especially at a time when vehicle theft in the UK is on the rise.
Make Your Vehicle Safer with a Thatcham Tracker
As you can see from our Thatcham Tracker S5 review, this advanced, innovative tracking system is a must-have for anyone who’s serious about increasing the security of their vehicles. Not only does it act as a deterrent, but it also can make car theft more difficult and vehicle recovery easier. Plus, you can enjoy the added benefits of peace of mind and insurance premium discounts. The important thing is to ensure that the Thatcham Tracker S5 specifications are compatible with your vehicle and that the Crystal Ball mobile app is compatible with your device.
Contact Crystal Ball for more information about this acclaimed vehicle tracking system.