- Thieves using internet sourced electronic devices to steal cars
without the keys
- Of the 21,000 cars stolen in London, 47% were stolen by
electronic compromise according to Met Police
- Category 5 and 6 Thatcham certified tracking devices combat
auto crime
Thatcham certified stolen vehicle tracking devices are becoming
one of the few solutions to protect drivers against the new wave of
technology-led car crime, according to vehicle security specialist
Cobra, and Thatcham Research, the motor insurers' automotive
research centre.
Latest figures from the Metropolitan Police reveal that just
under half (47%) of all car theft in London last year was carried
out without the use of force, with thieves believed to be hacking
into on board computers using devices bought on the internet.
These devices either fool the car into thinking the owner's
smart key is present by using radio transmitters, or plug directly
into the on-board diagnostic unit to access the engine control unit
(ECU), where a thief can programme a blank key to start the car.
Thieves can steal a vehicle in just 10 seconds without causing any
damage.
Thatcham Research recommends that one way to protect a car from
this type of theft is by fitting a Thatcham certified vehicle
tracking device that operates independently from the car's ECU.
"Car makers are very focussed on addressing this issue and we
know that progress has been made over the past two years. For
those motorists still concerned about their car potentially being
compromised, we recommend fitting a Thatcham certified vehicle
tracking system," said Mike Briggs, Thatcham's Security Research
Manager.
"The Thatcham security testing regime is one of the most
rigorous in the world and our certification provides the benchmark
level for crime prevention. Even if a car is stolen, a
Thatcham certified vehicle tracking system enables it to be located
by the tracking supplier and repatriated by the police to its owner
in a short period of time," he added.
Currently Cobra's average vehicle recovery time across its
CobraTrak and NavTrak products is just 37 minutes.
Andrew Smith, Managing Director at Cobra UK Limited, commented:
"Car crime is no longer the preserve of the opportunist but a more
targeted activity towards prestige brands which are stolen to
order.
"We are committed to partnering with Thatcham to ensure our
CobraTrak and NavTrak products continue to thwart car thieves as
they use ever more sophisticated means to steal cars."