By Peter Thompson, managing director of GPS tracking systems specialist CanTrack

Vehicle theft is plaguing drivers and business now more than ever

It has been well-documented that vehicle theft is plaguing drivers and business now more than ever – Home Office data shows thefts in England and Wales exceeded 101,000 in 2021, more than twice those initially published by the DVLA previously.

Our own figures also indicate a record number of thefts and recoveries in 2022. That’s without the usual skew towards the South of England; all major urban areas, particularly cities, saw rises between 9-24% in thefts.

As we enter 2023, businesses will be looking at factors which affect vehicle theft to try and minimise risk. But the causes for vehicle theft are a complicated matrix, with some increasing – and others decreasing – the likelihood of a vehicle being taken.

One of the biggest focal points is keyless theft, also known as ‘relay theft’. This occurs when a device is used to fool the car into thinking the car’s own remote key fob is close by, which unlocks the car and allows the ignition to be started. It is an organised crime which sees well-coordinated groups of criminals steal cars, before separating the car parts for resale.

Cars with keyless entry systems can be at a higher risk of theft and half of drivers take no action to protect their keys. Therefore, as a transport or fleet operator, it is important to educate drivers on the importance of keeping their keys in a safe place.

But increasingly devices are coming to the market that bypass even this relatively new method. The latest technology being utilised by thieves connects to cables running around the car to disarm security and start the car from locations such as headlights, radar systems and even by cutting small holes in the car to expose wires. These attacks can take place in less than two minutes without the vehicle’s alarm even sounding.

However, not only does technology affect vehicle theft, so too do environmental factors. Trends show daylight hours play a role – in winter months with fewer daylight hours, there is more opportunity for thieves to steal without being disturbed. But there are anomalies. For example, thieves who target business vehicles tend to commit the crime in daylight hours as it doesn’t look so suspicious. And interestingly at construction sites, the most likely time be targeted is at around 4pm when the light is dimming and there are generally less staff on site.

New car supply chain issues are also having an impact on vehicle theft. Prices are high for parts and due to the lack of new car availability, we’re seeing an increase of thefts aimed at providing stolen parts to (often unwitting) consumers and businesses.

Conversely, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the need for cheaper car parts may bring benefits.

Ultimately, with an unpredictable economy, the effects on car theft are hard to predict.

In the 2008 recession, Cantrack Global, part of Radius Telematics, noted a counter-intuitive reduction in theft; primarily because demand for stolen goods decreases when finance agreements terminate en-masse voluntarily and in-voluntarily, resulting in a glut of low-cost vehicles on the market.

2023 will be very hard to predict as we’ve never seen this particular set of circumstances. Recession is all but confirmed. Car supply continues to be at record lows, with 2022 showing the lowest number of new vehicle registrations in 30 years. But this comes against a backdrop of strong demand, especially from businesses who are unable to refresh their fleet vehicles in the way they planned.

During 2023, it will be interesting to see if businesses take more preventative steps where possible to decrease the chance of vehicle theft.

Many factors are directly out of business owners’ and fleet managers’ hands, but they can take action by enacting the following practical tips:

1. Keep your keys safe: if you or your fleet has a keyless entry car it is imperative that you make sure your keys are kept well away from doors and windows. It is also useful to put your car key in a metal box or tin so that the signal can’t be interrupted from outside and used to open your car. For those who are wanting to be extra cautious, metal lined wallets such as signal-blocking pouches can prove useful with keeping your car safe.
2. Turn off the wireless signal: many thieves execute keyless car thefts by using the wireless signal, so it might be worth switching it off.
3. Think about how you park: if you’re parking on your driveway, try to park defensively – as close to your property as possible, so that access is made difficult. Alternatively, try and park in well-lit areas, potentially using outdoor motion detector lighting and CCTV if you have a driveway, and, if parking on the street, choosing areas near streetlamps.
4. Get your windows etched: having your windows etched can also be a useful way to make it a tough job for a thief to alter your vehicle’s identity.
5. Go old school: they might have fallen out of favour, but physical steering locks once more have a place in the security line-up. Every layer of security helps a thieve to move onto an easier target.
6. Invest in hardware and software: whilst the above practical tips can be instrumental in protecting your vehicle from keyless car theft, there are also market-leading experts on hand to provide hardware and software solutions that allow you to go about your business, with less risk and interruption associated with theft, loss and insolvency. Aftermarket specialist theft recovery tracking systems are particularly beneficial, as unlike manufacturers’ systems which are always installed in the same location (vehicle-specific), aftermarket systems can be installed anywhere, particularly battery-powered systems which are incredibly difficult for thieves to locate.

As vehicle theft continues to plague businesses and drivers in 2023, it’s time to take back control with practical tips, as well as investing in specialist theft recovery tracking solutions, such as those offered by Cantrack Global, to ensure the safety of their vehicles.