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~ A personal take by Christopher Macgowan on tourism, travel and motorhomes.

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Tag Archives: Tracker

Tracker thwarts caravan theft – quickly.

04 Thursday Jan 2018

Posted by chrismacgowan in Technical

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#motorhomes, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, Tracker

File photograph.

Spencer Allen, head teacher at a local school in Swindon, and his partner, had to put their holiday plans on hold when thieves stole their caravan from a secure storage site near to their home. Fortunately, the Sprite Major 4 was fitted with a TRACKER device, which quickly led Surrey Police to the stolen vehicle. TRACKER’s Mesh Network played a key role in helping police trace the caravan to an industrial site in Guilford, allowing them to return it to the delighted owners.

Building work had been taking place on the storage site where Spencer had been keeping his caravan, and a skip had been blocking access to the locked gate to the caravan for some weeks prior to its disappearance. However, as soon as the skip was taken away, thieves swooped in, suggesting they’d been watching for the perfect opportunity.

Once the theft was reported to the police and the TRACKER device was activated at TRACKER HQ, police were led to its location within just three hours. TRACKER’s unique Mesh Network technology takes advantage of other vehicles on the road that are already fitted with a TRACKER, to relay information about a stolen vehicle that is equipped with the same technology. This brings drivers together to create a UK wide network of ‘listening vehicles’ which can help pinpoint the location of a stolen vehicle.

Spencer Allen says, “We’d been planning to go away with the caravan before winter set in, so it was still kitted out with our personal belongings. These would have normally been taken out when we prepare it for winter storage. Sadly these items been taken by the thieves, right down to a tube of toothpaste and some doggy chews, but thankfully we got our caravan back. We’ve already had one caravan stolen, but that one didn’t have a tracking device fitted and was never recovered. It was our pride and joy, so having a SVR device fitted in our replacement caravan was a must, both for our peace of mind, but also for our insurance.

“The TRACKER installation was part of the deal we secured with our caravan retailer and it’s fair to say I was sceptical, originally, but now I can see that it’s a service that really does works. What’s more, the team at TRACKER that co-ordinated the recovery with the police, were second to none. The reassurance they gave us throughout, kept us at ease and gave us the confidence our caravan would be recovered. I can’t express enough that the level of customer care the team provides, let alone the technology used to track stolen vehicles, is worth every penny. If it wasn’t for TRACKER, we’d probably have lost another caravan to thieves. But not this time.”

Andy Barrs, Head of Police Liaison at TRACKER (part of the Tantalum Corporation), comments, “TRACKER’s Mesh Network plays a significant role in the speed of recovery of vehicles stolen that have a TRACKER fitted. And as more and more motorists recognise the power of TRACKER’s SVR technology, the power of the Mesh Network continues to grow. Spencer’s case clearly backs up these figures and demonstrates the value of this unique technology in reuniting stolen vehicles with their owners.

“When a vehicle fitted with a TRACKER device passes any vehicle reported as stolen with us, and which is also equipped with our stolen vehicle recovery technology, it automatically sends a signal to TRACKER providing the location of the stolen asset. Whilst it won’t stop a caravan or vehicle from being stolen, a TRACKER device, enhanced by the Mesh Network, closes the net on thieves by increasing the chances of police locating and returning stolen assets.”

Unlike other devices, TRACKER’s unique technology can locate stolen vehicles anywhere, even when they are hidden in a garage or shipping container. TRACKER has been reuniting car lovers with their vehicles for nearly 25 years, and it’s this expertise which makes TRACKER the leader in stolen vehicle recovery. TRACKER stolen vehicle recovery systems 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.

Press here for Tracker.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

TRACKER links with Garmin.

24 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Technical

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Christopher Macgowan, Garmin, motorhome, motorhomenews, Tracker

20140124-181936.jpg

Tracker is well known to motorhome owners for its tracking devices.

Now, Tracker and Garmin have hooked up together in the fleet business.

TRACKER, the fleet telematics and stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) expert, has formed an exclusive partnership with Garmin, the world’s leading mobile navigation technology company, to bring to market a superior fleet management solution – TRACKER Vision. The collaborative partnership combines TRACKER’s award-winning fleet telematics technology and back-office expertise with Garmin’s satellite navigation units. Under the new agreement, TRACKER wins ‘Garmin Authorised Partner’ status, demonstrating the value of its technological expertise.

TRACKER Vision harnesses the Garmin Nüvi 2508LT-D UK to enhance the market leading fleet tracking product, TRACKER Fleet. The system combines fleet tracking with job allocation, navigation, reporting and driver communication provided through a customisable, secure user website.

Garmin takes the lead in the development of automotive sat navs and produces a range of products for cars, vans and HGV – designed with, and for, the relevant end-users. It’s Nüvi range of sat navs includes models that offer Garmin’s new digital traffic alerts, speed limit and safety camera information and wide range of advanced navigation functions such as Active Lane Guidance through junctions, photoReal Junction View and even Real Directions using landmarks to guide drivers, for example “turn left at the traffic lights”.

Over time, TRACKER will roll out versions of TRACKER Vision utilising a variety of Garmin sat navs for its fleet tracking solutions, giving businesses a flexible, scalable and affordable fleet management solution.

Garmin’s Director of Fleet Management & Commercial Business for EMEA and APAC, Clive Taylor, comments: “We’re delighted TRACKER has chosen to partner with Garmin for its fleet solutions. Our aim is to work with TRACKER to provide premium navigation and traffic information for TRACKER’s customers as well as improved communications and management for fleets, no matter what the size.

“This includes two-way messaging, task management information direct to the driver’s screen, job scheduling and ETA to the fleet manager. We look forward to working together TRACKER to provide an excellent service to their customers and with the specific aim to bring real benefits to their business.”

Stephen Doran, Managing Director for TRACKER says, “This partnership sees the mutual coming together of two leaders in their respective fields and the creation of TRACKER Vision, the first of a suite of tools designed to deliver a new level of control to fleet operators managing cars and commercial vehicles. It is a strategic union; TRACKER becomes the chosen fleet management provider for Garmin, as it becomes our chosen mobile navigation technology partner and the future will see us make significant technology strides together.

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

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