Distributors are being warned to keep an eye on their vehicles’ keys after vehicle recovery firm Tracker reported that the majority of stolen vehicles are taken using them.
Nearly £12m worth of stolen vehicles were recovered in the first 6 months of the year, thanks to Tracker’s GPS technology.
And the company reported that a staggering 74% of the vehicles were stolen using the owners’ keys.
The highest value recovery during January to June 2009 was a piece of plant machinery. The Caterpillar 936D worth £185,000 was stolen with its keys in the ignition.
Light CVs, most noticeably the Ford Transit and Nissan Cabstar, have also appeared regularly on the stolen and recovered list.
The Peugeot Ludix scooter, which became a favourite of thieves in 2008, continues to be an attractive option for them in 2009.
Tracker stolen vehicle recovery systems work like a homing device using a covert transmitter hidden in the vehicle.
There is no visible aerial and the device works even if the vehicle is hidden in a container or taken underground.
Regional hot spots for stolen vehicle recovery:
- London
- Manchester
- Essex
- Kent
- West Yorkshire
- Leeds
- West Midlands
- Surrey
- Berkshire
- Sheffield
Makes sense… vehicle security has moved on so much in recent years that cars aren’t stolen as such anymore… it’s the keys that are stolen instead!