Stolen company cars and vans worth £700,000 have been returned to fleets after ALD Automotive’s telematics system helped police trace the vehicles.

The technology provides companies with key management data, but its ‘location service’ has also seen a total of 30 stolen vehicles recovered.

ALD Automotive has been able to activate the unit’s SIM card, giving police officers a full detailed description of the vehicle’s movements and general location.

“The introduction of more advanced methods of tracking vehicles can only help to deter thieves, bring those responsible to justice and aid the swift recovery of stolen vehicles,” explained Sgt Warren Hayward, of Dudley North Road Policing Unit, West Midlands Police.

The most valuable vehicle stolen and subsequently recovered is a £59,000 BMW 630i Convertible 3.0 Sport Auto two-door.

Although vehicle crime has dropped by more than 66% since it peaked in 1995, nearly 1.5 million vehicle-related thefts were recorded in 2007-08 in England and Wales, the most recent year for which figures are available.