Thieves are increasingly using GPS jammers to steal commercial vehicles and plant, according to vehicle tracking specialists TRACKER.

The company says that in the last month alone, police in Kent arrested and jailed a criminal gang in connection with the theft of 26 vans. Over an 8 month period 150 Mercedes Sprinter vans were reported stolen in the Heathrow Airport area where the gang operated. The highly organised thieves used jammers to disable tracking systems in the vehicles, leaving the criminals free to break up the vans for parts or drive them to Europe.

“The Sentinel study confirms fears that GPS systems are susceptible to jamming and reinforces the need for van owners to protect not only their vehicle but the load it carries,” says Stuart Chapman, head of TRACKER’s Police Relationship Team. “Most of the vans Kent police discovered were stolen from workmen, who suffered a loss of business, on top of having their van and tools stolen.

Don’t Depend On GPS

Unlike other stolen vehicle tracking devices which rely on GPS alone, TRACKER is resilient to jamming because it brings together GSM, GPS and VHF technology.  This unique combination has created the most robust stolen vehicle tracking device available, offering commercial vehicle owners the best protection from this growing threat.

As part of its protection against jamming, TRACKER also raises an alert if there is any attempt to jam or tamper with the system, helping to provide an instant alert of a suspected theft. TRACKER’s system also feeds alerts directly to the police in the event of a theft, enabling them to start a targeted search for the missing vehicle, before it can be disguised or exported. TRACKER is used by all 52 police forces.

For more information about TRACKER, visit www.tracker.co.uk.