Wednesday 10th October 2001
Vehicle Thefts Up
Tracker Network busier than ever
Discussion
Here's a question to ask Tracker if you ever have one fitted: How far does the car have to move before the system is activated? You may be as surprised (as distraught) with the reply as I was after my (Tracker-fitted) LC was taken and torched...
Edited by Bruce Fielding on Wednesday 10th October 17:29
Edited by Bruce Fielding on Wednesday 10th October 17:29
I'm probably been paranoid, but Trackers have always worried me.
The general idea that the police can trace your car if it has been nicked is a great idea, but it doesn't help much if your car has been stripped down or torched by the time the rossers have got to it (after stopping to reload all the speed cameras along the way
).
The other thing is (I think I'm right in saying) you pay a subscription to the company to maintain surveillance, I'm guessing that this fee would increase over a period of time especially if the crime rate rises as that would make it worth the extra cash (ooh look what seems to have happened!!).
And finally I would be voluntarily putting a 'black box' in my car enabling agencies (not necessarily the police) to track my movements. (Possibly for marketing purposes!!!!!!)
I know, I know, I'm paranoid....
... but the truth is out there
The general idea that the police can trace your car if it has been nicked is a great idea, but it doesn't help much if your car has been stripped down or torched by the time the rossers have got to it (after stopping to reload all the speed cameras along the way
). The other thing is (I think I'm right in saying) you pay a subscription to the company to maintain surveillance, I'm guessing that this fee would increase over a period of time especially if the crime rate rises as that would make it worth the extra cash (ooh look what seems to have happened!!).
And finally I would be voluntarily putting a 'black box' in my car enabling agencies (not necessarily the police) to track my movements. (Possibly for marketing purposes!!!!!!)
I know, I know, I'm paranoid....
... but the truth is out there
I've just read the report again and they're not claiming that thefts are up necessarily. Activitions are up by varying amounts in different areas, some in league with their increased sales as pointed out.
What they say is statistically valid (IMHO) but probably doesn't actually tell us much about the state of car theft in general.
What they say is statistically valid (IMHO) but probably doesn't actually tell us much about the state of car theft in general.
The AVERAGE distance which a Tracker-fitted car has to be moved before activation is TWO KILOMETERS. This means that any thieving bstrd with a covered wagon or a nearby garage can whip your car around the corner and work on it at leisure to poke about and find all the security and disable it. Plus, when you find this out AFTER they've nicked your Lotus Carlton (LC) they don't even say sorry. Even when it's been turned to ashes (pic available, sob, sob). RAC Trackstar (now fitted to my Griff) is MUCH better as it works by GPS and needs moving only a short distance before calling the rozzers (or you if you're a cheapskate).
Edited by Bruce Fielding on Thursday 11th October 12:24
Edited by Bruce Fielding on Thursday 11th October 12:24
The biggest problem witth car theft is the "low chance of being caught" and stupidly low fines/punishments for those that are caught.
Even the professional theives say they only get caught 1 in 20 cars and the fines are around £1000 and often no prison sentence, thats a hell of a profit margin. With these trackers, you assume the police are racing to the scene but we have all seen how fast they come to a building with its burgular alarm going and direct link to the police station.
Whilst car crime is "profitable" it will increase.
Even the professional theives say they only get caught 1 in 20 cars and the fines are around £1000 and often no prison sentence, thats a hell of a profit margin. With these trackers, you assume the police are racing to the scene but we have all seen how fast they come to a building with its burgular alarm going and direct link to the police station.
Whilst car crime is "profitable" it will increase.
quote:
The AVERAGE distance which a Tracker-fitted car has to be moved before activation is TWO KILOMETERS.
Bruce, sounds a crap experience. However my understanding of how the Tracker system works is different. From what I know of Tracker it relies on a certain number of unauthorised movements within a certain amount of time. It's doesn't work on a simple distance measurement.
As for GPS being better than the radio system there are arguments in favour of both (GPS won't work underground/in crates etc, where radio will?).
Must admit I am not sure how the Tracker system fitted to the MG actually works. I think I have to 'phone them to tell them vehicle is missing, not sure. It was one of the earliest installs I know of. However, at point of installation a fixed fee was paid so no annual membership/subcription etc need be paid. BTW, Pistonheads.com is advertised on the back of latest marketing/info/blurb leaflet from Tracker. Nice one Ted !!
Sorry to contradict you, Ted, but that was what Tracker themselves told me! Oh, and stay away from multistorey car parks as well, as the Police told me that they can't trace Tracker when the car's high up (not sure why!) and it doesn't always work in crates either. Any more info like this and we could start our own ringing business! Mind you, if I know, and you know, we can be sure that 'they' know, too.
Have to agree with Ted, my Cerbie was on the back of a flat bed on the way to have a few gremlins removed and we clipped the kerb causing enough vibration to set off the alarm. Before I could get the keyfob out of my pocket I had the nice lady from tracker on the phone wanting to know what was going on.
Edited by AdamB on Thursday 11th October 14:25
Edited by AdamB on Thursday 11th October 14:25
2nd hand info I know but was told by a friend who works in the met that Tracker is next to useless in central London, apparently if the plod switch on there sets all that get is a mutitude of confused signals all pointing at the Thames !! It seems that the vast majority of cars or located tracker boxes seem to end up in one common place. He also said that Tilbury is an equal hot spot where there are just too many signals coming from.
quote:
Also, if you believe the stats that RAC Trackstar (?) gave out a few weeks back, over 95% of cars fitted with tracking devices are recovered.
errrrrrrr no sorry I don't.
I personally know 5 people who have got / had admittedly Tracker fitted. Alas 2 of those have had them nicked one on a bike, one in a car and suprise suprise neither were ever seen again.
Now I know my level of survey is a bit small to use for statistical purposes so I wouldn't claim that 100% of those stolen are never seen again !!! However either I have the most unlucky collection of mates in Britain or those figures are complete bollox.
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