Stolen BMW returned to owner within three hours

Recent Home Office figures reveal a 12% drop in vehicle crime, but car owners still need to be vigilant, as William Newton discovered when burglars stole his keys and drove off in his BMW. Luckily, TRACKER, the UK leader in stolen vehicle recovery, came to the rescue when William discovered his car was fitted with the latest tracking security device.

William, aged 35, had his BMW 645 C1 stolen after his car keys were taken during a burglary at his home in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. Thieves broke into his house and drove away in his BMW, which was on the driveway.

“I thought I had lost the car for good”, says William, “as it had been missing for 2 weeks. But then a friend asked if the car was fitted with a tracking device and after investigating, I discovered that it was fitted with a product from TRACKER. I phoned TRACKER and the tracking device was activated.”

As a result the police found William’s car within three hours, in Wembley, London.

“If I hadn’t found out the car was fitted with a TRACKER, the likelihood of me ever finding it would have been very slim. I would highly recommend TRACKER to anyone who has a car. I’d also advise people buying second-hand to find out if the car is fitted with a security device like this. Without TRACKER I still wouldn’t have my car and would have the added hassle of claiming on my insurance and finding a new car to buy. TRACKER collected my car and delivered it back to my home at no extra cost.”

Stuart Chapman, TRACKER’s Police Relationships Manager and a former senior Police Officer comments, “Mr Newton was extremely lucky his car was fitted with TRACKER’s unique stolen vehicle recovery device. This story highlights the importance of vehicle security as car criminals continue to develop more sophisticated ways to steal cars. TRACKER data shows that the majority of our customers’ cars that are recovered are stolen as a result of key theft by burglary or robbery.

“We strongly recommend that used car buyers check to see if the vehicle is fitted with a TRACKER. If it is, you should be given a pack from the seller. You need to ensure you submit papers to TRACKER to alert them that you are the new owner – don't just rely on the seller to do this. Unfortunately, once a car has been sold, unless we are informed of the new owner's details, the network subscription that ensures a TRACKER can be activated if a car is stolen will expire unless it is paid for by the new owner.”

TRACKER stolen vehicle recovery systems 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 even know it’s there. Unlike other tracking systems, the device works even if the vehicle is hidden in a garage or taken abroad, offering car owners the ultimate in peace of mind should the worst happen.

For TRACKER Stolen Vehicle Recovery product and pricing information please visit TRACKER.co.uk

TRACKER’s car security advice

Never leave the keys in the ignition, even if you are just stopping quickly

Always lock and secure your vehicle, check the sunroof and windows

Make sure you don’t leave belongings on show, lock them in the boot or take them with you

Fit a stereo with removable front panel and take it with you when you leave the car. Mark it with your vehicle registration

Never leave car documents or spare keys inside the car

Keep doors locked and windows up when driving

Park in busy or well-lit and attended car parks near CCTV cameras

If you have a garage, use it

Don’t leave the car unattended when waiting for it to defrost

At home, don’t keep keys in a place where they can be seen or accessed from outside

If buying used, check whether the car has a TRACKER and notify the provider of new ownership