Automobile theft has been a major concern over the last few years. Vehicles from Lexus, Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai have been key targets for criminals. Aside from a premium security system, GPS tracking is the best investment if you hope to get a stolen vehicle returned. Let’s look at the automotive theft process and explain how a locating device can help get your car or truck back into your driveway.
Auto Thefts
There are a few ways that thieves steal modern vehicles. Some use a relay attack to capture signals from your key fob in your home and unlock the doors. From there, thieves connect to the vehicle’s computer systems, add a new key fob, and drive away in near silence. Top tip: Don’t keep your keys near the front door of your house.
When the bad guys can’t relay the unlock codes from your keys to the vehicle, they have to resort to more invasive processes. They may smash a window and climb through. They are smart enough to know not to open a door, as that will trigger most factory-installed security systems. Once in, they program a new key fob and are on their way. The entire process takes only a few minutes, and brazen thieves commit their dastardly deeds even in broad daylight.
What Happens to a Stolen Vehicle?
Most thieves follow a simple process once the vehicle is stolen. They drive it out of the city it was stolen from and park it in a public place for a day or so. Why? They are checking whether there is a tracking system that will lead the police to the vehicle. One of our team members who listens to police scanners has heard law enforcement follow a stolen vehicle about 40 miles, only to find it parked at a recreation center a few cities away. This process is called “cooling off.”
If, after a day or so, the vehicle hasn’t moved, the thieves either drive it to a chop shop or place it in a container for shipment out of the country.
What About Factory-Installed Tracking?
Most new cars, trucks and SUVs have some form of smartphone-based keyless entry and vehicle-locating system. Aren’t these enough to get your car back? The short answer is no. Thieves know exactly how these systems work and where components like the antenna are located. They disable these either before the vehicle is stolen or when it’s parked to wait. Don’t underestimate the effort bad guys put into preparing to steal a vehicle.
Aftermarket Vehicle Tracking Solutions
It’s safest to assume that criminals know everything about the cars they want to steal. As such, the only way to get your car back is to use an aftermarket tracking device. Firstech, the manufacturer of the Drone telematics system, has recently launched a product designed specifically to track new cars, trucks, SUVs, boats, personal watercraft and powersports equipment – the Drone XT. Drone XT is a smart tracking solution that works with the DroneMobile smartphone app and website to let you keep tabs on your belongings.
Having a Drone XT installed in your car or truck lets you check your vehicle’s location in seconds. Just open the app or visit the website, and you’ll know where the vehicle is located. You can even see a breadcrumb trail of where it’s been, had it been moving.
What sets Drone XT apart from other options? First, it will alert you when the vehicle moves. There’s a small geofence around the parked location, so you won’t be annoyed by small variances caused by GPS signal strength variations. If the system is hardwired to the vehicle via the included USB-C cable, you’ll receive a notification when the engine starts or shuts off.
The system incorporates several environmental sensors that will also trigger alerts on the owner’s smartphone. There’s temperature, humidity and even a light sensor. When any of these detect an abrupt change, you’ll know about it seconds later.
While we are focusing on auto theft, the Drone XT is a perfect solution for motorcycles, boats or a trailer, thanks to its built-in 2,200 mAh battery pack. The system can operate for up to three weeks in Energy Saving mode. It lasts for up to 10 months in Deep Sleep mode. If you are worried about someone stealing a motorcycle while you are on a road trip, Drone XT is a perfect solution.
The Importance of Proper Installation
You may recall that we emphasized how well thieves know the wiring in the cars and trucks they steal. If you have a tracking solution installed, it’s only as effective if the bad guys don’t find it. For example, power wires tapped into the fuse panel will lead criminals to the tracking device’s location, making it easy to defeat.
As with any automotive accessory upgrade, you need to be picky about who works on your vehicle. You want to choose a shop that will take the time to integrate all the wiring into the factory harnesses, using the same cloth or vinyl tapes the vehicle manufacturer uses. You’ll want to ensure that a mounting location is chosen that conceals the unit from view, even if access panels are removed, or major components like the radio are removed from the dash. Skimping on a high-quality installation can render the solution useless.
Protect Your Vehicle with a GPS-Based Tracking System
If you are worried about someone stealing your vehicle or weekend toys, then visit a local authorized Drone retailer and ask about having a Drone XT installed. You can find a retailer near you using the locator tool on the Dronemobile.com website.
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