Don't Let Thieves Steal Your Car Keys

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom – January 22, 2009: New guidelines issued by Britain’s top Judge, the Lord Chief Justice, have called for tougher sentences for domestic burglaries as he declared this crime a ‘serious criminal offence’. This new guidance offers a tougher approach on theft and burglary and is welcomed following years of treating these offences as low priority.

Indeed, burglars are targeting houses, not only for jewellery, cash and electricals, but specifically for vehicle keys. Many of these cars are ‘stolen to order’, by professional criminals and a significant percentage of those, not recovered within 72 hours, are taken out of the UK.

Most new cars are fitted with immobilisers and alarms, which make the vehicle keys as valuable to a thief as the car itself. Stealing car keys, often through burglary (37%), is now the most popular way for thieves to take vehicles1 which means that sophisticated vehicle locating and recovery systems are now more important than ever before.

Cobra UK, the European market leader for stolen vehicle tracking is warning motorists to keep their vehicle keys out-of-sight in the home. Storing car keys away safely after a busy day may not be high on the list of priorities, especially when people are keen to get home to loved ones after a hard day at work.

Andrew Smith, Managing Director of Cobra UK explains, “Thieves have two main options when attempting to steal a modern car. They can either take the keys or lift it onto a truck. But whichever method they go for, a tracking device is a thief’s worst enemy as it can lead police to the exact location of the vehicle. CobraTrak systems use the latest in GPS/GSM technology to provide pinpoint positioning of a stolen vehicle and offer the very best solution in Europe-wide stolen vehicle tracking.”

For complete peace of mind, fit the vehicle with a sophisticated GPS tracking device such as CobraTrak, from Cobra UK. Once fitted with a GPS stolen vehicle tracking system, the vehicle can be easily located which means it has a significantly better chance of being recovered. Cobra UK is unique in offering pinpoint GPS tracking across 36 European countries and Russia, with police liaison undertaken in local language to avoid misunderstandings and provide a seamless international infrastructure.

Top tips on the best way to protect your home, brought to you by CobraTrak:

When you go out at night draw your curtains and leave a light on

Install a burglar alarm and outdoor security light

Check that all the doors and windows are locked

Install a timer on the lights and the radio for the evening so that it looks like you are in

Top tips on the best way to protect your vehicle, brought to you by CobraTrak:

Put your vehicle in the garage overnight

On entering the house secure the door behind you

Do not leave your keys on open view at home

Keep keys in a safe place away from doors and windows where they can be seen. (Keys can be stolen without even entering the premises with the ‘hook and cane’ method through letterboxes)

Fit your car with a CobraTrak GPS vehicle tracking system

Make sure your home is security protected.