When it comes to improving the chances of recovering a stolen vehicle, nothing beats a TRACKER.

Although many motorists will commonly associate this technology with high-end cars, the truth is that it is probably even more relevant for companies operating commercial vehicle fleets.

The loss of a van or truck, with thousands of pounds worth of goods or specialist equipment on board can cause damaging disruption to a business, even if it is all insured.

The story of a recent van theft illustrates just how powerful the TRACKER system is, both technologically, and as a deterrent.

A van belonging to Mark Keel, of KD Doors in Lanarkshire, was stolen while an engineer was out on a job. Mark is a TRACKER Fleet customer and also has TRACKER SVR (stolen vehicle recovery) units fitted to all his vehicles for added security; the power of both technologies found the van within less than an hour.

Mark Keel says:

“One of my engineers called me in the afternoon to let me know his van had just been stolen. I was obviously very concerned.  Not only was the van itself valuable, but the tools and equipment inside were equally valuable.  The loss of both would have been a major hit on our business.

“I called 999 and gave them details of the TRACKER SVR unit and 50 minutes later the vehicle was located and recovered. The thieves had apparently left it there to check if it had a tracking unit on it, and so the van was recovered with all my equipment inside. After the initial shock it was a real relief to know I had a TRACKER on my vehicle, ensuring that it could be located swiftly with everything safe inside.”

TRACKER’s range of SVR products work like electronic homing devices.  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 systems, TRACKER’s devices work no matter where the vehicle or equipment is hidden, even if taken abroad.

Van hire companies don’t always tend to fit TRACKERs (at least they don’t publicly admit to it, and given the short time vans can spend on fleet before being de-fleeted, it doesn’t seem likely), but the power of a TRACKER system is a useful lesson to anyone operating a van who can ill afford to lose a van and all the associated gear.

Of course, there are other tracking systems available that claim to offer similar benefits, but judging from this tale in The Times, they are not all as effective and securely fitted as a genuine TRACKER. In this case, thieves stole the car and removed the tracking device within 12 minutes — since when the car has not been seen.