Tracker foils thieves attempt at bike theft
Motorcycle dealers have been hit hard over the last year with sales down by 20 per cent in 2009. This has resulted in a greater drive towards generating extra revenue from aftersales, vital in tough times when every penny counts. One London dealer believes there are massive benefits to selling TRACKER stolen vehicle recovery devices, not only for revenue uplift, but as an integral component in protecting the customer’s assets, which proved essential for one customer.
Martin Powell, from London based motorcycle dealer Metropolis Motorcycles, advised customer Edgar Montez, who had just spent £10,000 on a brand new Suzuki GSX-1000 K9, to install a TRACKER Monitor for added security. This turned out to be a vital choice as just six months later the bike was stolen from outside the customer’s workplace.
“The last year has hit motorbike dealerships hard because of the fall in sales, so extra revenue made by aftersales is essential,” says Martin Powell. “It is not just about the money. Reputation and good customer care are the most important elements when selling a motorbike. Dealers need to be providing the right advice and offering a solution that is appropriate to each individual’s customer need. Security should never be overlooked, and Mr Montez’s situation is an unfortunate example that highlights the benefits of taking the right security measures.”
Mr Montez says: “I had bought the bike to use on my commute to work. Having spent so much money on it, and knowing it would be parked outside my workplace for long periods of time, I thought it wise to take up the dealer’s advice to invest in TRACKER. I’m so glad I did, otherwise I’m not sure my bike would ever have been recovered.”
The Metropolitan police worked alongside TRACKER to recover the stolen bike. Stuart Chapman, TRACKER's Police Relationships Manager, says: “Typically with motorbike theft, it is quicker and easier for the thief to load the bike into the back of a van or trailer. They tend to drive the van right up to the motorbike, where it was quickly whipped into the back. More often than not, someone is already in the back dismantling the bike.
“Unlike other GPS only based tracking units, TRACKER devices use VHF-based technology which still emits a signal even if the vehicle is put in the back of a van, which is vital for a fast recovery,” concludes Chapman.
TRACKER stolen motorcycle recovery systems work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several places around the motorcycle. TRACKER offers the ultimate in protection as it detects when the bike is being moved without the ignition being turned on. The tracking device works even if the motorcycle is hidden in a container or transported on back of a van. TRACKER is the only vehicle tracking system operated by all 52 police forces in the UK, offering bike owners the ultimate in security.