Cobra News & Blog Archive 2009

Cobra is delighted to announce the appointment of Miles Garner as General Sales Manager for all Cobra's UK operations. Miles has a strong sales and marketing track record within the European telematics and motor industries, both with Sony and more recently as Head of Sales and Marketing for Autotxt, the company responsible for the approved stolen vehicle recovery programme for Land Rover, Jaguar and Aston Martin.

Read about the visit of Alan Campbell, the UK Government Minister for Crime Reduction, to AVCIS - the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service. This is the Police Umbrella Unit tasked with fighting vehicle enabled crime. Cobra sponsor AVCIS and Andrew Smith, Managing Director of Cobra in the UK, was delighted to attend this event and to demonstrate Cobra's leading edge security technology to the Minister.

AVCIS has announced a partnership with Cobra UK, the European market leader for stolen vehicle tracking, as part of a joint initiative to combat vehicle-enabled crime, reduce police response times and improve recovery rates.

In order to assist police forces in the capture of criminals, Cobra, European market leader for stolen vehicle recovery systems, has developed a new comprehensive range of Capture Car systems, employing the very latest in-car technology to give police the upper-hand in catching thieves in the act.

You've been searching for months and finally have your dream car. It's fitted with all the latest gadgets from the top-of-the-range entertainment system to alloy wheels. It has the best alarm and immobiliser system available but that doesn't mean that your vehicle isn't vulnerable to thieves. Many people feel that with recent improvements in alarm and immobiliser technology their cars are protected against theft, but criminals are overcoming them.

Burglars are targeting houses, not only for jewellery, cash and electricals, but specifically for vehicle keys. Many of these cars are ‘stolen to order’, by professional criminals and a significant percentage of those, not recovered within 72 hours, are taken out of the UK. Most new cars are fitted with immobilisers and alarms, which make the vehicle keys as valuable to a thief as the car itself. Stealing car keys, often through burglary is now the most popular way for thieves to take vehicles

Cobra UK and AVCIS are working together using Cobra's Capture vehicle technology in the fight against freight crime. Freight crime is a huge problem in the UK, costing the economy up to £1 billion per year.* Unfortunately, as the average loss of each incident totals over £25,000**, the reward for such haulage far outweighs the risk of detection and prosecution for many criminals.

As football fans across the UK look forward to the second leg of the Champions League, players may be feeling apprehensive about leaving their loved ones and possessions behind, following the recent armed raid on the home of Manchester United's Darren Fletcher.

Cobra UK is to become the sole supplier of stolen vehicle tracking systems to Audi, further strengthening the successful relationship that has already been forged between the two brands, and emphasising the commitment to quality and continual product development that Cobra UK shares with the leading German automotive manufacturer.

The Home Office’s quarterly crime statistics have publicised a six per cent decrease in offences against vehicles*. However, Andrew Smith, Managing Director of Cobra UK, European market leader for stolen vehicle tracking services, announced a 129 per cent increase in vehicle thefts from quarter three to quarter four in 2008**.

As Valentine's Day approaches, your other half may be happier polishing his sports car than finding you a special gift and more interested in brake fluid levels than taking you out for a romantic dinner. So if you're struggling to compete with what is hopefully the 'second' greatest love in his life, why not buy him a Valentine's gift that will give him the peace of mind to turn his attentions to you this February.