UK police service extends relationship with Tracker

The UK police service has extended its 27-year partnership with Tracker for a further five years.

The extended contract will continue to support the police in the ongoing challenges and successes of recovering stolen vehicles and returning them to their rightful owners, whilst enhancing the prospect of apprehending more criminals.

Since the start of the relationship, Tracker and the police have jointly recovered over £561 million worth of stolen vehicles, made 2,783 arrests from cars fitted with Tracker products and continue to recover on average £1 million worth of stolen vehicles each month.

Tracker reported a spike in the theft of Range Rovers in March, 2021 and revealed UK car theft hotspots as keyless car thefts reached a record high. 

Assistant chief constable Jenny Sims said: "Using Tracker’s VHF technology, Tracker detection units are fitted in over 2,000 police patrol vehicles and throughout the national fleet of police helicopters that comprise the National Police Air Service (NPAS).”

Tracker said its combination of VHF with GPS/GSM technology makes its units resistant to GPS/GSM jamming and enables the police to pinpoint a stolen vehicle if it is hidden in an underground car park, container or lock-up.

The Tracker Mesh network has also been instrumental in locating stolen vehicles, said Tracker.

When a vehicle fitted with a Tracker unit passes any Tracker equipped vehicle that has been reported stolen, the Mesh Network listens and automatically sends a silent signal to Tracker’s headquarters and the police, providing the location of the stolen asset.

Mark Rose, managing director at Tracker, said: “We are constantly looking at innovative ways to stay ahead of criminals and investment in technology, such as the Tracker Mesh network, is vital in achieving this. With the Police having our equipment fitted in their vehicles and helicopters, we can achieve hugely successful recovery outcomes.”

Sims added: “Over the past 27 years, my colleagues across the country have seen some very significant results through our partnership, which not only greatly assists in the recovery of stolen vehicles, but also, on many occasions leads to the apprehension of offenders and the dismantling of organised crime groups.

“This collaboration is part of our ongoing commitment to clamping down on car thieves and further raising public confidence in our ability to recover their assets and bring the offenders to justice."

Rose added: "With criminals using increasingly sophisticated methods to steal cars, our relationship with UK Policing is even more important.

“We certainly look forward to building on the success we have achieved together for another five years.”