The latest Home Office Report reveals that organised thieves have adapted extremely well to modern car security and reports that criminals have become much more determined.
Tracker is putting the spotlight on the report, Reducing Criminal Opportunity - vehicle security and vehicle crime, and is calling upon manufacturers to think carefully about a ‘third wave’ of vehicle security to increase the chances of recovery.
Andy Barrs, police liaison officer at Tracker, said: “Criminals have had to develop much more sophisticated techniques to overcome vehicle immobilisers and keyless entry systems. Whilst manufacturer immobiliser technology has helped to significantly reduce offences, organised criminal gangs now possess the know-how to overcome such systems.”
The report states that whilst the technology to overcome vehicle immobilisers is available, it is not yet being used by offenders in great numbers, but the Home Office believes thefts will start to rise once the knowledge of electronic compromise spreads.
Barrs said: “The Home Office report calls for a ‘third wave’ of vehicle security to combat a potential rise in theft. The days of the casual joy-rider are long gone. Today’s vehicle thieves are most likely to be highly organised criminals, capable of bypassing current security levels. This is why we believe that stolen vehicle tracking and recovery technology could be the next major solution to combat vehicle theft.”
Gordon Evans - 05/05/2016 14:52
Tracking is good but it doesn't prevent the crime. How about manufacturers fitting a "standard" OBD socket locking device which needs an encryption code to open it every time. That way the manufacturer could check the person who needs to unlock it every time. If the code is entered wrong it could time out and then need the dealers mothership to unlock! Either way yes it slows down aftermarket servicing repairs etc but it also stops thieves re-coding keys and stalking vehicles in less than a minute. It is also possible to do this now. There are also physical locks an owner can put onto the OBD socket and when a thief sees this he may just move onto the next Range Rover and leave yours alone! They cost about £200 fitted and are cheaper than your insurance excess......