Arnold Clark has teamed up with stolen vehicle recovery specialists (SVR) TRACKER, to offer further protection to car buyers to guard against the increasing threat of keyless car theft and relay attacks.
Under their new agreement, TRACKER is the preferred supplier of stolen vehicle tracking units to over 200 Arnold Clark branches throughout the UK, providing customers with a high level of protection against vehicle theft.
Keyless entry involves sending a signal to your car from your key fob. Thieves can exploit this technology if they know the location of both the key and the car. They use a relay amplifier and transmitter and use the wireless signal generated by the key fob to open and start the car at a greater distance.
In 2018, 88% of vehicles stolen and recovered by TRACKER were taken without using the owner’s keys. This has been a huge jump over the past two years with that figure standing at just 66% in 2016, rising to 80% in 2017. This new partnership between TRACKER and Arnold Clark gives car buyers more power to stop vehicle thieves.
All Arnold Clark product consultants have completed TRACKER training, so they can help customers choose from a range of recovery solutions that meet their security needs, such as Battery Powered Retrieve, Monitor and Locate.
Jim Graham, Group Risk and Products Director at Arnold Clark says, ‘We are delighted to say that our entire network is ready to help our customers get the most from our partnership with TRACKER. We offer over 20,000 new and used cars from 27 manufacturers, and now we can also offer our car buyers the very best SVR solutions available. Peace of mind comes from investing in the best defence against vehicle theft.’
‘As Arnold Clark is well known for its value and excellent customer service levels, we needed a solution that was going to be reliable and high quality. The range of TRACKER products and services gives us just that, and we can remain confident that our customers will receive the complete driving package.’
Greig Hilton, Managing Director at TRACKER, says, ‘Analysis of our 2018 theft recovery data revealed that the BMW X5 was the most stolen and recovered vehicle, with prestige brands BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover and Range Rover models reigning supreme in our league of top ten. The average value of stolen and recovered cars in 2018 was £20,000. These findings demonstrate the importance of SVR technology in helping police locate and stop thieves from selling vehicles on, stripping them down for parts or shipping stolen vehicles abroad.’
‘In the past few years, Police Scotland has significantly invested in equipping its patrol vehicles and helicopter with our revolutionary VHF tracking technology in the fight against vehicle crime. And our unique partnership with Police Scotland ensures we can achieve the highest conceivable recovery rate for Arnold Clark customers.’
TRACKER’s award-winning SVR systems have been reuniting car owners with their stolen vehicles for 25 years. Operating like an electronic homing device, TRACKER’s unique technology can locate stolen vehicles anywhere, even when they are hidden in a garage, a shipping container or at a location in Europe. A covert TRACKER transmitter can be hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. As there is no visible aerial, there is no way to tell a tracking system is fitted.