BMW X5 MOST FREQUENTLY STOLEN AND RECOVERED CAR FOR SIXTH YEAR RUNNING

As owners of new cars take delivery of their latest pride and joy this March plate change, stolen vehicle recovery expert TRACKER is putting the spotlight on thieves' top targets. According to the latest figures from TRACKER (part of the Tantalum Corporation), the BMW X5 is still the favourite among car crooks, topping its most stolen and recovered table again 2014 for the sixth year in a row.

Last year TRACKER recovered over £11 million worth of stolen vehicles and returned them to their owners. The average value of cars stolen and recovered in 2014 increased by over 8%, hitting £25,600, compared to £23,600 in 2013.

For the past three years, BMW models have dominated the top 10, but 2014 saw an increase in the range of Mercedes and Jaguar Land Rover marques being stolen and recovered. The BMW M3 moved down from second place to sixth, in 2014, whilst the Mercedes C Class moved up a place to take the number two slot.

The Range Rover Sport jumps four places, up to third position and the Land Rover Discovery makes a new entry at fifth, suggesting that 4x4s were in big demand for organised crime gangs 2014.

Whilst Porsche enjoyed year-on-year new car sales growth in 2014, it dropped out of the TRACKER Top Ten most stolen and recovered league table completely; it sat at ninth place in 2013 with the 911.

"The 2014 figures illustrate that prestige models continue to catch the eye of thieves, but the average value of stolen cars we recovered was just £25,600, suggesting that older models of prestige cars could be just as attractive to criminals as newer models, " explains Andy Barrs, Head of Police Liaison at TRACKER. "Interestingly, the number of vehicles that are being stolen without keys has steadily risen over the last few years, accounting for 43% in 2014. We believe this is down to the growth in car hacking where criminals target keyless vehicles by bypassing their security systems, using technology they've bought on the internet.

"Indeed, experts, such as Thatcham Research have warned that as keyless security systems become commonplace in cars, the skills to bypass these will be widely practiced by most criminals and in turn, lower value keyless vehicles will be equally at risk. We recommend that car owners invest in an added layer of security by using tracking devices that harness the latest technology."

TRACKER is the only provider of stolen vehicle recovery systems which bring together GSM, GPS and VHF technology. This powerful combination offers motorists the most effective safeguard against theft, even in the event of its GPS failing as a result of signal 'jamming' by the more discerning criminal. The units 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. TRACKER is the only vehicle tracking system operated by all police forces in the UK, offering car owners the ultimate in security.

TRACKER's Top Ten Most Stolen and Recovered

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March 2015
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Notes to Editors

• TRACKER, part of the Tantalum Corporation, has been leading the way in the field of vehicle tracking and telematics since 1993. With over a million market leading security and award winning fleet management systems fitted to vehicles including passenger cars, motorcycles, HGVs, LCVs and plant and construction equipment, TRACKER is still leading the way.
• TRACKER with the police has to date recovered over £490 million worth of stolen vehicles and continues to recover on average £1 million worth of stolen vehicles each month.
• With over a million systems installed to date, its award-winning products ensure its customers have complete peace of mind.
• Tantalum Corporation is one of Europe's top 'connected vehicle' companies addressing some 500,000 vehicles.
• Tantalum's products have the capability to analyse real time data from over 270 data points within a vehicle, with patented algorithms. The company has established B2B relationships with fleets, insurers, auto manufacturers, Tier 1 customers and the UK police force.

For further press information please contact Hannah Talbot, Justine Hoadley or Cecile Stearn at HSL, Churcham House, 1 Bridgeman Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 9AJ. Telephone: 020 8977 9132. Email:tracker@harrisonsadler.com