Aerial attack
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Truck thieves are under attack from a tracking device that is designed to recover stolen vehicles, catch the people, who took them and lower insurance premiums. CM has tracked it down... by Danny Coughlan
• Like something out of one of those old black-and-white movies, Tracker will now lead the police straight to your stolen vehicle. For around £375, including all air-time for the duration of ownership, this electronic bugging device will retrieve the truck, probably get the culprit arrested and potentially reduce vehicle and goodsin-transit insurance costs. It attacks organised truck theft, but won't deter joyriders—yet.
The police are keen on the system because, unlike an alarm, it offers the chance of an arrest. For this reason Trackerequipped vehicles do not display the fact: thieves will have to find out about it the hard way.
Leyland Daf Trucks and Scania offer Tracker as an option across their rangesScania fits it as standard to its R143-500 Streamline flagship— and most other truck, van and car makers are considering offering Tracker, too.
Following its September launch Tracker's effectiveness was first demonstrated on 30 November. A Ford Sierra Cosworth stolen overnight in Redhill, Surrey was found at
16:00hrs the next day when a police patrol car traced the signal to a South London lock-up.
Tracker Network of Uxbridge, Middlesex imports the system from the US. Introduced as LoJack in 1986 it now covers 250,000 vehicles in eight states and four more states will come on line this year.
In Boston, once known as the car theft capital of the US, Tracker Network says theft has fallen 41% since the product's introduction and the arrest rate is 25%, compared with 5% for non-equipped vehicles. The recovery rate is 94%.
In Britain Leyland Daf estimates that 58% of the 15,000plus stolen trucks are never recovered complete.
Cigarette packet
Tracker is a transponder about the size of a cigarette packet. It takes a power feed to replenish batteries which are active if the vehicle battery is removed. Even the owner isn't told where the unit is hidden in the vehicle.
Tracker has supplied all mainland Britain's police forces with the necessary receivers for their cars, tall buildings and helicopters.
The working range is typically three to five miles on the ground and more than 40 miles from the air. The movement of vehicles together with fixed detectors at the ports and on major roads effectively provides nationwide coverage, says. Tracker
Freef one call
The vehicle theft is reported to police and a crime number obtained. A freefone call relays this number to Tracker and, after verification of some details to prevent hoaxing, a signal is transmitted to awaken the hidden transponder.
The vehicle transmits its silent distress signal in all directions. The police equipment automatically picks up this alarm once in range. Police then hunt down the signal using the direction and range information shown by their units. By now officers also know the vehicle's colour, marque, type and regis tration from records held by Tracker Network. The company also instructs the transponder to squawk more frequently, once a second, to help pinpoint the location.
Vehicle buyers Secondhand vehicle buyers will be told the vehicle's secret by the DVLA when they receive the new V5 registration document. They can then contact Tracker Network and subscribe if they wish.
There is a one-off £42.55 registration and inspection fee which gets the new user on to the system and provides a check of the transponder. The new customer also pays a £52 annual fee thereafter, or alternatively a lifetime subscription equivalent to three annual payments.
Insurance premiums In the case of commercial vehicles Tracker has the potential to reduce insurance premiums both for vehicles and goods in transit
The Institute of Insurance Brokers is promoting Tracker through its 4,000 members and has instructed them to seek discounts from the insurance companies on behalf of their clients.
The insurance companies have already started offering motorists discounts averaging 10%, says the EIB.
The LIB says commercial vehicle cover is more negotiable with premiums based much more on the previous year's record. Hauliers should negotiate discounts individually, says director-general Andrew Paddick.
Paddick believes Tracker will control commercial vehicle theft. "There is an alarming move toward stealing the vehicle itself," he says. "Tracker could lead to the break up of criminal gangs and the recovery of vehicles, even when disguised."
Tracker's low cost has to be one of its great advantages. It won't stop someone taking the vehicle, but it will help to recover it and will often lead to an arrest.
The average recovery time in the US is two hours from the point the theft is reported, says Tracker Network. This means there's a good chance loads can be recovered, too.
El by Danny Coughlan Tracker Network can be contacted on (0895) 234567, fax (0895) 234117