Vehicle theft is at an all-time high. This is driven by the price of expensive vehicles on the road, and their quick resale potential. Whether you want to protect your own vehicle or your company’s fleet, you need efficient vehicle anti-theft tracking devices in place.
Vehicle tracking is about the only way you can recover a stolen car. While there is no guarantee that your vehicle will be returned to you, installing this kind of technology gives you the best possible chance. In this guide, we’ll explore the role of vehicle tracking in theft recovery.
Why Vehicle Tracking is Crucial
Using GPS car tracker technology is crucial because of the rise in car thefts in 2023. Not only does it help you track down car thieves after your car has been stolen, but it also helps deter thieves from stealing your vehicle in the first place. Overall, it provides you with a high level of vehicle security.
The Rise in Vehicle Thefts
According to Statista, while the general trend has been a decline, the number of vehicle thefts has risen since 2020/2021. In 2021, there were 89,107 vehicles stolen in the UK. In 2022/2023, this has significantly increased to 130,521 vehicles stolen. This is a serious jump, which gives car owners all the more reason to invest in car trackers.
How Vehicle Tracking Works
Vehicle tracking devices use GPS systems and real-time tracking in order to locate the whereabouts of a stolen car. Crystal Ball’s Fleet Tracker technology alerts managers and drivers about any unusual vehicle activity.
Knowing about any unauthorised movements of your vehicle is the first step, but anti-theft technology doesn’t have to stop there. With the optional add-ons of remote mobilisation and driver ID checking, drivers and fleet managers can prevent the vehicle from being able to start the next time the thief attempts to start the ignition.
With the vehicle immobilised, you can use the GPS tracker to lead the authorities to the exact whereabouts of the car. Hopefully, this then results in a successful recovery of the car.
Types of Trackers
There are several different types of GPS tracking device technology on the market. At Crystal Ball, we offer both our commercial FleetTracker telematics systems and Thatcham insurance-approved trackers.
FleetTracker
FleetTracker is a GPS tracking system designed for tracking vehicles on the move, optimising routes, and of course, recovering stolen vehicles. These GPS vehicle trackers are ideal for commercial fleets and have a wide range of optional additional features like remote immobilisation and driver ID fobs which prevent the vehicle being started if authorised ID isn’t present.
Thatcham Trackers
Thatcham trackers are insurance-approved vehicle trackers that have passed the stringent testing of Thatcham Research. This company researches different aspects and tools associated with car security, and either approves or rejects them. Thatcham-approved trackers have advanced security features and are able to provide you with a reliable truck or car tracker system.
These insurance-approved trackers meet the expectations of most vehicle insurance companies. They come with 24/7 monitoring via a monitoring station. As soon as a theft attempt is detected, the monitoring station will alert the police of the exact whereabouts of the stolen vehicle. Instead of waiting until the next day to find out you’ve been subject to car theft, the monitoring station is already locating and recovering your stolen vehicle on your behalf.
In contrast to fleet GPS tracking which is designed for businesses, Thatcham trackers are more suitable for personal use with high-value vehicles such as campervans and sportscars. They’re a great way to keep your vehicles secure and lower insurance premiums.
Vehicle Theft Recovery Case Study
Our GPS trackers have helped various individuals and businesses across the UK locate their cars in the event of a theft. In their time of need, their GPS tracker has been able to locate the stolen vehicle and return it.
For example, Weld-A-Rail were able to recover two fleet vehicles using vehicle location and tracking systems provided by Crystal Ball. Through Crystal Ball’s tracking system, Weld-A-Rail found their vehicles parked two miles away from where they were stolen.
Not only was the tracking device useful, but the analytical data provided helped Weld-A-Rail understand when and where the vehicle robbery occurred. Not only did the analytical data reveal the times in which the two vehicles were stolen, but also the precise route that the thieves took once on the road.
So, even if you don’t follow your car tracking device live, you can still easily figure out the direction your car thieves took, which will lead you to your vehicle’s location.
According to Weld-A-Rail, these vehicles had expensive equipment stored within the trucks. So, the return on investment that this company made on Crystal Ball’s tracking devices was significant. The cost of replacing the trucks and the goods stored inside them would have far exceeded the price paid for the fleet management tracking device.
Advanced Vehicle Tracking Features
In addition to real-time monitoring and geofencing, advanced vehicle tracking systems may also include bolt-on features such as remote immobilisation, which allows you to prevent a car thief from driving any further once they have stopped the car.
Real-Time Monitoring
Through real-time monitoring, you are able to alert the police to the live location of the thief. This ensures that interception of the thief can be done promptly, and increases the chances of vehicle recovery success.
Real-time monitoring also allows you to track the route that the thief took after they stole your vehicle. You can use this route information as evidence in court.
Geofencing
Our car trackers come with geofencing technology, which allows you to set virtual boundaries for each of your cars. If the car tracker detects that this boundary has been crossed, an alert will be sent. On one level, this is great for tracking your fleet and making sure that they’re sticking to the most time-efficient route.
On another level, it helps you detect whenever a thief has taken over the car and driven out of the set geofencing boundary. This allows you to more quickly respond to vehicle theft and increases the chances of recovery.
Mobile App
Crystal Ball’s tracking device also comes with a connected mobile app, which allows you to follow the tracking system. If you choose to add the remote immobilisation feature, you can activate this through the app when you think it’s necessary. The mobile app is essential for tracking down the thief and ensuring vehicle recovery.
Conclusion
Vehicle tracking is more than just a form of added security. It’s an essential piece of kit if you want to know your car’s location at all times, track down your stolen vehicle, and even reduce the cost of your insurance policy. If you are in the market for a tracking system such as a fleet tracker or Thatcham-approved tracker, contact Crystal Ball today for state-of-the-art anti-theft tracking solutions.