Vehicle Crime: Protect yourself this Winter

Unattended vehicles, and plant, are particularly vulnerable over Bank Holidays and in particular the extended Christmas & New Year break.

Even though the thieves started their Christmas shopping early this year there is no reason to expect that they'll take the same holidays as the rest of us. Extra vigilance is recommended and maybe an interim check, during the holiday, to make sure you're equipment is still there.

The earlier you act to respond to a theft the greater the chance of recovering it.

Enigma is here to support you. Our office hours are 8.30 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday, out of hours just call on 0844 800 9926 and listen to the recorded message.

There are many practical precautions that you can take to make theft even more difficult and we've listed a few of these below together with links to various websites with even more advice & suggestions.

Trucks, Vans & Cars:

  • Never leave valuable items in your vehicle, including the removable radio covers, your Sat Nav or even your Christmas presents.
  • Never leave your keys where they can be seen from the front door or in a poorly secured site office which will be unmanned over the Christmas period.
  • Wipe away the Sat Nav mark on your windscreen.
  • Fit anti-tamper screws to your number plate.
  • Park with care, particularly if leaving a vehicle for the duration of the Christmas period, if possible park in a busy well lit area.
  • Ensure all doors, sunroofs and windows are properly shut and that security devices are active.
  • Check that any tracking devices or alarms that may be fitted are working and will do their job in the event of a theft.
  • If a tracking device is fitted, ensure the vehicle battery is charged – if it goes flat the tracking device will have limited life whilst working off its battery back-up.

Plant & Agricultural Machinery:

  • Locate plant within view of guards or CCTV systems.
  • Key security locked safe/metal key cabinets taken off site.
  • Secure small and portable items in a locked container or removed from site to a secure location.
  • Chain/padlock small plant items together (or to a secure structure).
  • Fit cab screens to plant.
  • Block high value items with smaller items.
  • Check that any tracking devices or immobilisers that may be fitted are working and will do their job in the even of a theft.
  • If a tracking device is fitted, ensure the vehicle battery is charged – if it goes flat the tracking device will have limited life whilst working off its battery back-up.

We sincerely hope you don't fall victim to vehicle theft but if you do, and the vehicle is tracked by Skyline we recommend the following action.

Log in to Skyline and check the vehicle is connected (red & amber lights mean the device is not connected) although if it's green you can check current location by selecting and pressing the "locate" button in the dropdown over the vehicle grid. Note the current location.

Even if it is not connected run a report to cover the time when you last saw it to current time; print this off and have it to hand.

Call the Police and report the theft. Give them as much detail as you can and be sure to take a note of:-

  • Police authority (IE Kent, Staffordshire etc)
  • Phone number
  • Officer name
  • Crime or incident reference
  • Telephone number

Mention to them that it is tracked and you have a location. DO NOT refer to Skyline as Tracker as this is not Skyline and the Police will handle the matter quite differently. Tell them you have Skyline GPS tracking system.

We also suggest you request a Police contact e-mail so that you can send them the Google Earth pictures of the vehicles last location.

To do this from Skyline you simply need to run a 'Detailed' report which gives the last know location of your vehicle and click on the 'Show On Map' link. Copy & Paste the link to the map when it appears into an email. Our experience says that this information is extremely useful and more than likely to result in the recovery of your vehicle!!

Remember we’re always at the end of the phone on 0844 800 926

 

Best Wishes for 2010 from the Enigma team

 

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