Increase in LCV theft
According to 2017 recovery figures from TRACKER (part of the Tantalum Corporation,) 82% of Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) were stolen without the owner’s keys. This is nearly a 100% increase compared to 2016 (44%).
The Ford Transit was again the most popular van stolen last year and accounted for over half of the LCV recoveries made by TRACKER.
‘Keyless entry technology has now been widely adopted in the LCV market, and this is evident in the fact that last year there was a two-fold increase in LCVs being stolen without the owner’s keys,’ confirmed Andy Barrs, Head of Police Liaison at TRACKER. ‘The relatively new trend in vehicle theft termed ‘relay attack’, that allows criminals to harness more sophisticated theft techniques to overcome existing vehicle security technology, such as immobilisers and keyless entry systems, has played a significant part in this increase.’
The impact of van theft goes beyond just having the inconvenience of being without a vehicle. As well as the hassle of dealing with insurers to get a vehicle replaced, owners need to consider the financial impact. Brand reputation can be at risk too if a business cannot serve its customers.
