Cobra News

Dean commented, "Our demonstrators are all highly desirable so we protect them with Audi approved CobraTrak vehicle tracking systems as a matter of course.  This is also an excellent added value incentive for people to buy our ex demonstrator vehicles.  Sadly, this isn't the first time we have needed Cobra to recover vehicles for us.  With these two cases Cobra has again helped Police to recover the vehicles in record time and provided exceptional support and communication.  It's clear to see why Audi chose Cobra to partner with.  I'm very relieved to hear that both our customers were unhurt, and that their cars were recovered so quickly and completely undamaged". 

Audi S4 recovered by Cobra in 14 minutes - 3^rd January 2011

A Bolton Audi customer parked his prized S4 on his drive in the early hours of the New Year Bank Holiday Monday.  He awoke at 9am and went downstairs and found to his alarm that the house had been burgled while he slept, the vehicle keys taken and the car gone. Home Office figures reveal that 85% of stolen cars registered after 1997 are now stolen with the vehicle keys.

The vehicle was an ex demonstration model from Bolton Audi, who always protect their high value demonstrators with Audi CobraTrak, the only manufacturer approved tracking systems for Audi vehicles.  The customer had only taken delivery of the vehicle in December 2010 at which point he had wisely purchased a one-off lifetime CobraTrak subscription to cover him for the duration of his ownership of this sought after vehicle.

At 09:06 the customer contacted the Cobra 24 Hour Stolen Vehicle Helpline with a Crime Reference Number to advise that the vehicle had been stolen.

By 09:08 location and ignition status had been provided to the Police by Cobra

At 09:20 Police confirmed that they were on scene with the vehicle

At 09:39 the vehicle was recovered to a secure location to enable forensic testing. There was no damage to the vehicle.

Thanks to prompt action from both Cobra and the Police, the S4 was recovered in a matter of 14 Minutes.  Another routine recovery for Cobra, and a massive relief for the customer who had only owned the vehicle for a few weeks.

Audi A4 recovered by Cobra in 17 minutes - 8^th January 2011

A Lancashire Audi A4 owner had a very unpleasant experience after returning from a supermarket trip at teatime on the 8^th January. Whilst shuttling back and forth into the house laden with shopping bags, she was shocked to be confronted by two men who she had spotted in the street moments earlier. They threatened her with a hammer unless she handed over the keys to the car - a high spec 2.7 litre model costing £30,000 new. She threw the keys to them and fled into the house whilst the thieves drove off in the car.  She immediately rang the Police to report the vehicle stolen.

The vehicle had originally been a demonstrator owned by Bolton Audi who had the foresight to protect it with an Audi CobraTrak tracking system, subsequently passing the benefits on to the customer who only had the annual subscription charge to pay.

At 18.33 Cobra commenced live tracking having received a Police Crime Reference Number from the customer.

By 18.36 Cobra provided location and ignition status to the Police.  The vehicle had now been parked by the thieves and was stationary.  Thieves will often leave a vehicle parked up for a few hours to establish whether a tracking system is fitted, in which case Police will turn up quickly and secure the vehicle.

At 18.50 Police confirmed that they were on scene and had secured the vehicle - a mere 17 minutes after the vehicle was first reported stolen.

The vehicle, which was undamaged, was then moved to a secure Police compound for forensics.

The car owner's husband praised Cobra for the excellent level of service and the speed of recovery of the vehicle.

An excellent result for the customer and his insurer, the Police, and also for Cobra.

  Audi CobraTrak Vehicle Tracking Systems

Audi CobraTrak Vehicle Tracking Systems are the only tracking devices tested and approved by Audi AG for the Audi range across Europe. Audi CobraTrak systems are all Thatcham accredited - carrying the highest independent UK security ratings for tracking products. They come with Pan-European tracking coverage as standard across 36 countries plus Russia and South Africa delivered through Cobra's network of 24 hour Secure Operating Centres who provide local language Police liaison to established procedures in each country. All Audi CobraTrak systems also benefit fully from the Audi 3 year manufacturer warranty.