PROTECT YOUR CAR AGAINST OPPORTUNISTIC THIEVES THIS WINTER

Tracker warns of the rising risk of theft as temperatures fall

With the weather across the UK having switched quickly and dramatically from mid-summer to mid-winter temperatures, stolen vehicle recovery expert, Tracker Network (UK) Ltd, is warning motorists that the change in season brings with it an increased threat of car theft.

Sub-zero temperatures see the arrival of Jack Frost and with that ‘frost-jacking’ – when vehicles are stolen because they have been left unattended while the engine is running to defrost windows. Each year, fewer hours of daylight and frosty weather conditions cause vehicle theft reports to peak between November and January, with almost £3.7 million worth of stolen vehicles recovered by Tracker during this period in 2022/2023, which is up by more than a million pounds compared to the previous year.

“Frost-jacking is an opportunistic crime,” explained Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison at Tracker. “Thieves see an unlocked vehicle with the engine running with the owner nowhere to be seen and take advantage, stealing the vehicle within seconds. Drivers should never make life easy for criminals by leaving keys inside the vehicle.  What’s more, they should be aware that a vehicle theft as a result of frost-jacking is rarely covered by insurers, adding to the stress and inconvenience for its owner.”

As well as providing an easy opportunity for thieves, leaving a vehicle unattended with the engine running is an offence under the Road Traffic Act, meaning drivers are at risk of receiving an on-the-spot fine if caught. However, driving with windows that are iced over, obscuring the view of the road, is also illegal and can lead to a hefty fine and penalty points.

Clive Wain continued: “Whilst drivers should do all they can to protect their vehicles from the risk of theft all year, winter brings additional opportunities for thieves, so drivers need to stay alert. Although it’s cold work to scrape ice and snow from car windows, and it’s tedious to stay with your vehicle if you’ve chosen to run the engine, the danger of not fully defrosting a vehicle before driving off, or the risk of leaving it unattended with the engine running, is far too great. Whilst it might mean an earlier start or delay your departure, staying with your vehicle avoids it being an open invitation to passing thieves or law enforcement officers.”

Tracker has an unrivalled stolen vehicle recovery rate of more than 95%, with 80% of those stolen vehicles recovered within 24 hours, thanks to its exclusive nationwide partnership with the UK’s police. Tracker’s solutions work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. There is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t know it’s there. VHF technology unique to Tracker makes its units resistant to GPS/GSM jamming, confirming Tracker as a superior security defence against determined thieves.

Tracker’s Winter Security Advice

• At home, don’t keep keys in a place where they can be seen or accessed from outside – secure keyless fobs inside a Faraday pouch a long way from the vehicle so thieves cannot extend the signal to steal the car in a relay attack
• Never leave the keys in the ignition or anywhere inside the vehicle, even if you are just stopping quickly
• Defrost an icy vehicle safely – do not leave it unattended, use heated windscreen or automated defrost functions where possible, consider using a windscreen cover overnight and use de-icer spray and an ice scraper rather than hot water to defrost quickly
• Never leave your car unattended with the engine running when de-icing
• Always lock and secure your vehicle when you leave it even for a few moments
• Don’t leave belongings on show, lock them in the boot out of sight or take them with you
• Do not leave technology items on display, such as satnavs or mobile telephones.  Take them with you or lock them out of sight in the boot
• Never leave car documents or spare keys inside the car – this only makes it easier for thieves to sell it on
• When out, always park in busy or well-lit and attended car parks in areas covered by CCTV
• If you have a garage, use it to park your car
• Consider fitting a Thatcham-approved Tracker device to help police recover your vehicle if it’s stolen.