Car criminals use cheap tracking devices to target vehicles
Tracking devices provide a useful means of locating items when they’re lost. Unfortunately, in the wrong hands, tracking devices provide a cheap means of helping criminals to track and steal your car. With theft of luxury and high value vehicles on the increase, particularly within the South East and the Midlands, it’s important to be aware of the risks and understand how to detect tracking devices, thereby protecting your vehicle.
A tracking device, such as an AirTag or similar product, is a small, magnetic tag, about the size of a £2 coin and costing less than £30 to buy. You can stick them to anything, such as your keys, wallet or luggage. Should the item get lost, it’s easy to locate it, using an app. However, such tracking devices are proving popular with car thieves as a means of tracking, monitoring and ultimately stealing vehicles, especially those that are ‘stolen to order’.
Car criminals hide the trackers on a vehicle, which then connects with their phone, enabling them to monitor the movements of the car - where it goes, where it’s parked and where it’s kept overnight. The car can easily be tracked back to the owner’s house, where it is more easily stolen. The criminals then return at night, to break in and either steal the keys from the home or use an electronic scanner to gain entry to the car and drive it away. Once stolen, the car’s location can then be tracked by the thieves as it is shipped overseas.
How to protect yourself
If you feel your vehicle may be at risk, you should always check your vehicle for tracking devices. The most common places for finding hidden tags are in the roof lining, fuel tank flaps, wheel arches and storage compartments. They can be detected using apps such as Apple’s Tracker Detect or Samsung’s SmartThings, which scan for any unknown devices. Once located, the trackers can easily be disabled.
iPhones will alert you to the presence of any AirTags that may be around you, but aren’t registered to you. They also give you the option to ‘Play sound’, which will make the tracker bleep, making it easier to detect
Owners of keyless entry cars should be especially vigilant as car hacking is a serious problem. Criminals can intercept the signal coming from the electronic keys, enabling them to unlock the car without having to press a button on the fob or put a key in the lock. To prevent this happening, electronic keys should be kept away from doors or windows and placed in a Faraday pouch or box, which will block the signal and prevent it being intercepted.
Other deterrents
You could also invest in a steering wheel lock, which is a visible, highly effective deterrent; an engine immobiliser, or your own tracking device, helping you to locate your vehicle if it’s stolen. It’s always a good idea to make sure your parking space is lit up or on-camera and use CCTV or dashcams where possible.
If you find an AirTag or tracking device on your car, alert the police. They should be able to see who the tracker belongs to and may even be able to catch the people responsible. If your car is at high risk of being stolen, it’s definitely worth fitting your own alarm system and tracking device, enabling you to track your own vehicle.
Our Business is your Protection
It goes without saying that if you have a high-value or luxury car, you need to mitigate the risks using the measures detailed above. You also need to ensure you have the correct level of insurance in place, providing the necessary level of protection.
AT NLIG, we have been providing tailored car insurance solutions for many years and are well aware of emerging risks and how they may affect you. We can ensure you have appropriate motor insurance in place, ensuring you are well protected should the worst happen, and advise you on how to best minimise your risk profile. To discuss your motor insurance, please call TMD on 01992 703 200 or email us at insurance@nlig.co.uk