TRACKER, the UK’s leading stolen vehicle tracking and recovery systems specialist is preparing to launch a ground breaking product with greater resistance to jamming. TRACKER Locate will provide a significantly enhanced defence against vehicle theft following the latest revelations.

Tracking devices have become a major part of every day life with GPS being used in everything from cars to phones, cameras and even pet collars. But GPS systems are vulnerable to a technique called ‘jamming’ which blocks the signal between a GPS satellite and its receiver.

The impending launch of TRACKER Locate, marks the arrival of the most advanced tracking device on the market, incorporating GSM, GPS and VHF technology in one unit. The result is a solution far more resistant to criminals using jamming devices. Used by all 52 police forces, TRACKER’s stolen vehicle tracking and recovery systems inform the police of the initial location of a stolen vehicle. Crucially, TRACKER Locate will raise an alert if there is any attempt to jam the communication system or tamper with the unit, so the police and owner are aware of the theft instantly. It then uses the precision of VHF technology to track that stolen vehicle to its exact location.

“Many people are unaware how much we rely on GPS. It’s not just vehicle owners that are under the increasing threat of jamming,” explains Stephen Doran, managing director for TRACKER. “With criminals increasingly importing jammers from China or manufacturing their own in the UK, experts are even voicing concerns that air traffic control or other important networks may come under attack by terrorists in the future if steps aren’t taken.”

Stephen Doran concludes, “There is an over-reliance, particularly on GPS alone, as a security and recovery system. With more and more UK motorists vulnerable to attack from jamming devices we don’t believe a single technology system is robust enough. TRACKER Locate has been designed specifically to overcome these issues for the stolen vehicle recovery market. But, more importantly, our advances in technology make this solution equally applicable to any market or business where the protection of the asset is paramount and the rising risk of GPS jamming causes concern.”

Residents on a Gloucestershire housing estate got a real surprise recently when the local police force’s helicopter began hovering above workmen excavating a back garden. However, the two thieves using the stolen mini digger and its trailer had an even bigger surprise when they were caught red handed.

The criminal’s had fallen foul off a cross-border police operation, making use of technical support from TRACKER. Fortunately, the digger and trailer had been fitted with a TRACKER system, which allowed the police to go straight to the culprits.

Sergeant Tony Moore, from Avon & Somerset, Road Policing Tactical Crime Unit, says, “The information we received from TRACKER was instrumental in helping us locate the stolen digger and trailer. This case is a fine example of inter-force co-operation and the value of our partnership with TRACKER. Plant theft is sometimes seen as an easy crime for criminals as they are often stored on vast sites and not manufactured with unique ignition keys. However, the arrest of two local men sends a clear message to thieves that we are on their case.”

Stuart Chapman, Police Relationship Manager for TRACKER, concludes, “In 2008 we recovered nearly £2.5million worth of plant equipment with 54% valued at less than £10,000, demonstrating the very real risk of plant theft to business. In this case, the owners were lucky as our relationship with all 52 police forces in the UK was essential to finding the digger. We continue to work side-by-side with the police, using unique Very High Frequency technology to help crack down on plant theft.”

TRACKER’s Traffic and Travel service provides real-time updates, helping fleet managers reroute drivers and cut the cost of congestion.

“Traffic delays can cost a business dearly, pushing deliveries behind schedule, impacting on customer service levels and reducing fuel efficiency,” explains Bill Raynal, Managing Director of TRACKER.

“The current climate makes the need for real-time traffic information more crucial than ever, reducing stress for drivers, while increasing the efficiency of the fleet. With access to up-to-the-minute traffic information, drivers can take immediate action to avoid long delays. TRACKER’s Traffic and Travel service provides updates on traffic congestion, accidents, length of delays and suggestions for alternative routes.”

TRACKER’S traffic updates are provided by the Highways Agency from information gathered from cameras situated in town centres. Motorway information is gathered using cameras situated on all M roads. Drivers simply call the TRACKER Traffic and Travel number for an update on the road they are travelling on.

Raynal concluded, “Our traffic service includes information on how long the tailback is, how long ago an accident happened and whether recovery vehicles are on the scene. Customers can also ring and leave their own traffic information. This is particularly important in cases where an accident has been cleared, but the warning signs are still up on the motorway. Traffic congestion doesn’t have to be a necessary evil for business drivers. By combining several sources of information TRACKER can provide fleet managers with the information they need to ensure their drivers avoid delays and reduce business costs.”

Both vehicles, stolen from one address, were recovered from containers on two different ships that were destined for Hamburg. One had already started its voyage and the other was still docked at Portsmouth harbour. The story is due to be featured on BBC’s ‘Cars, Cops and Criminals’ next year, TRACKER helped the police recover both cars, thanks to its market-leading tracking security technology.

The story started with a customer who had hired a Mercedes from Licensed Carriage Hire (LCH), based in Elstree, Hertfordshire, as his own vehicle was going into the garage for repairs. LCH delivered the car to him on a Saturday, but that night both his own and the LCH vehicle were stolen from his drive after thieves broke into his house and stole the keys for both vehicles.

The thieves must have thought they had scored a double success.  Yet TRACKER’s own data shows that vehicle theft using a driver’s own keys is extremely common, as 74 pwe cent of all vehicles recovered in 2008 were stolen using driver’s keys.

The customer phoned LCH on Sunday to report the theft and Richard Horne from LCH alerted TRACKER. Fortunately, the LCH vehicle was fitted with a TRACKER unit and the Mercedes was found in a container on a ship preparing to leave to Hamburg.

As the police suspected there may be other stolen vehicles on a ship that had already left the docks, they called ahead to their colleagues in Hamburg and the containers were held and returned to the UK. Once the containers were opened, police found in one of them the LCH customer’s Mercedes.

“TRACKER’s close working relationship with the police secured the recovery of not just my company’s own vehicle but my customer’s too,” explains Richard Horne of Licensed Carriage Hire. “Without the TRACKER device in my vehicle, both cars would have been lost for good. This is a fantastic result and confirms that a tracking device really does provide that extra level of security.”

Stuart Chapman, Police Relationship Manager for TRACKER, adds, “We are the only stolen vehicle recovery provider working with all 52 police forces in the UK and once again this relationship was essential in finding not one, but two stolen vehicles. This case highlights the value of the way TRACKER works side-by-side with the police, combined with the power of its unique stolen vehicle recovery devices.”

TRACKER stolen vehicle recovery systems work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. There is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t even know it’s there. Unlike other tracking systems, the device works even if the vehicle is hidden in a garage or taken abroad, offering car owners the ultimate in peace of mind should the worst happen.

Telematics offer a wide range of driver information to help fleet managers monitor vehicle usage, such as the distance a vehicle has covered, the hours it has been in use and the type of journeys it has been on.

The firm even includes the speed a vehicle has been driven at and the time spent idling, offering vital management information.

Yet Bill Raynal, Managing Director for TRACKER, believes that many fleet managers overlook the fact a vehicle tracking system can also help to anticipate vehicle faults and implement better preventative measures. These are fundamental in protecting a vehicle’s final sale price.

“Devaluation is the enemy for fleet managers, which is why it is important to sell unwanted vehicles quickly. A comprehensive picture of how a vehicle has been used can make a significant difference when it comes to its disposal. Buyers like to know that a vehicle has been maintained properly as anything less will command a lower price.  Keeping on top of service and maintenance can be a challenge for today’s fleet manager, but telematics can actually provide email and text reminders for servicing and MOT, helping them ensure vehicle certification is up-to-date at all times.”

Effective telematics harness the power of technology to enable fleet managers to monitor driving behaviour, including everything from excessive speeding, to unplanned deviation from a route. By combining all the available data, fleet managers are put firmly in control of the status of their vehicles, driver safety and potential maintenance issues.