Van Trackers and Immobilisers

Van security involves using physical or electronic measures to deter malicious acts, prevent damage, and thwart van theft. These measures may include immobilisers, trackers, dash cams, steering locks, and driveway bollards as physical deterrents.

In the year 2022/23, there were 130,521 cases of motor vehicle thefts in England and Wales, which is a significant increase as compared to the previous year. The number of vehicle thefts has been on the rise since 2013/14, when the recorded count was 70,000. The increase in vehicle theft cases can be attributed to the growing use of keyless entry and start systems, along with the emergence of new digital theft methods. These methods allow thieves to bypass factory-installed security features and steal vehicles in mere seconds.

Most van makes and models have an equal risk of being stolen, whether they are modern vehicles or not. This is especially true for those fitted with keyless technologies. Over the past 6-7 years, (while a car) the Range Rover has consistently been the most stolen vehicle in the UK, despite not having any major security vulnerabilities other than being fitted with keyless entry and start technologies. This is simply because it is highly sought-after. As for vans, thieves are particularly attracted to the Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, and VW Transporter.

Here we discuss some of the most important things you can do to protect your van against theft.

1. Keyless entry and Start systems.

If your van is equipped with a keyless entry and start system, it's recommended that you turn it off to prevent thieves from gaining access to your van. This will require you to press the unlock button on the fob every time you want to enter the van, but it's a small inconvenience compared to the potential loss of your vehicle.

However, if you don't want to or can't turn off the keyless entry and start system, you'll need to take extra precautions. One option is to keep the key in a Faraday pouch or box when you're not using the van. Another option is to keep the key a good distance away from the van.

When distancing your key from the van, make sure there is no direct line of sight to the van, as thieves can use transceivers that can broadcast deeply into a house to find your key. Therefore, it's highly recommended that you use aftermarket security products such as a tracker and immobiliser system, as well as a Faraday pouch, to prevent entry to the vehicle.

2. Look for an indication your van is locked.

Thieves have been using signal jammers to prevent the key fobs of van owners from locking their vehicles. Van owners who don't check if their vehicle is locked before walking away are particularly vulnerable to this type of theft. These incidents usually occur in supermarket car parks, but they can happen anywhere. Thieves wait for a van of interest to drive by, follow it to get close, and then broadcast a jamming signal to prevent the key's signal from locking the vehicle. When the owner presses the lock button and walks away, the van remains unlocked, giving the thieves easy access to it. They can then steal the vehicle through an OBD attack or a cloned key.

To prevent this type of theft, always check for an indication that your van received the lock signal from the key fob. This can be a flashing indicator light, folding mirrors, or a horn beep. If you don't receive any indication after pressing the lock button, it's likely that your key's signal is being jammed. In this case, you should stop and lock your van manually using the key blade or by touching the door handle if it's fitted with keyless technology. Locking your van by touching the door handle is an effective way to prevent this type of theft, as it avoids the use of the key's signal entirely and therefore foils jamming attempts.

3. Invest and install additional aftermarket van security.

Many vans produced today have insufficient security features, making them vulnerable to digital theft. Manufacturers are struggling to keep up with the rapid development of new theft techniques. As a result, van owners in the UK are turning to aftermarket solutions to protect their vehicles.

Aftermarket immobilisers are becoming increasingly essential in the fight against modern digital theft methods. These user-friendly passive devices require no input from the driver and provide an additional layer of authorisation for your van’s starting procedure. They work independently from the vehicle’s factory-fitted security systems, making them great upgrades for preventing modern theft techniques such as relay attack and key cloning.

Professional vehicle trackers are also crucial in the recovery efforts of a stolen vehicle. Without a tracker, the chances of finding and recovering a stolen van are slim. Motor insurers often require the installation of Thatcham category S5 trackers, which offer round-the-clock theft monitoring and automatic driver recognition. As insurance-approved products, their installation can also help to reduce your insurance premium.

Ideally, you should have both a tracker and an immobiliser to ensure maximum security for your van. An aftermarket immobiliser prevents nearly all attempts of opportunistic theft, while the tracker serves as a backup in the event of theft due to any circumstances. Without an immobiliser, your vehicle can be stolen with relative ease using modern theft techniques. And without a tracker, you are unlikely to recover your van if it does get stolen.

4. Factory-fitted trackers (a false sense of security).

It is not recommended to subscribe or activate your van's factory-fitted tracker. If your new van comes with a tracker subscription, that's fine. However, spending money on one when equipping a new van or activating it in a pre-owned vehicle is not advised. Even if you are already subscribed to the service and the factory-fitted tracker is active, it's recommended to have an aftermarket tracker installed.

The main reason to avoid factory-fitted trackers is that they are installed on a production line. This means they are all fitted in the same place, specific to the van model. For example, while a car, a Range Rover's factory-fitted tracker, marketed as InControl Secure, is fitted in the same location on every single Range Rover that comes off the production line. This makes it easy for thieves to locate and remove the tracker if they know where to look.

Most factory-fitted trackers are not designed for true vehicle security purposes. Rather, they are normally just a vehicle's connected-car communications hardware with a monitoring center attached to it marketed as a factory-fitted tracker. Some of them may be independent factory-fitted trackers, but they are often outdated and bulky, making them easy to find by thieves. Manufacturers offer factory-fitted trackers and services as another revenue stream, but they are expensive compared to aftermarket subscription rates.

It's easy for someone to disable the Range Rover's factory-fitted tracker in under 60 seconds, and most stolen-recovered Range Rovers are found with the factory-fitted tracker disabled. Thieves will also disable all factory-fitted hardware that can communicate with the outside world, including the SOS call system. Interestingly, the Range Rover InControl Secure tracker is also category S5 Thatcham and insurance-approved and can be configured as a regular category S7 too. However, such is the ease of factory-fitted tracker disabling and removal that some insurers of Range Rovers stopped providing cover, even with the activation of Land Rover's own Thatcham and Insurance-approved category S5 tracker (factory-fitted). So, a security product that car insurers endorse is now not acceptable even while being a Thatcham-certified category S5 tracker. Why? Because it is factory-fitted.

Motor insurers have learnt the hard way that trackers just can't be factory-fitted, they need to be installed in the aftermarket. They're too easy to find and disable when factory-fitted (mainly due to the fact the electrical wiring, which also contains information about the tracking system, is most of the time freely available online), and insurers have found this out through costly pay-outs on 'stolen not recovered' vehicles. The key to trackers is for them to be installed in secrecy, a process known as security through obscurity. Having the whereabouts of your van's factory-fitted tracker on the internet with detailed documentation of how to access it isn't secure or secretive, but that’s the case with factory-fitted tracking systems.

While that covers why you shouldn’t rely on a factory-fitted tracker for your van's security, there’s also the matter of dealership-fitted trackers.

Dealership-fitted trackers –

It is worth noting that some van manufacturers and dealerships collaborate with the automotive security aftermarket to provide customers with the option to have professional-grade aftermarket trackers installed at the dealership. While this may seem like a convenient option, it is important to consider the quality of installation you are likely to receive from dealership technicians who are primarily trained in servicing VW commercial vans.

In contrast, independent vehicle security installation professionals are dedicated experts in the installation of aftermarket security equipment and are more likely to provide higher-quality installation services. Moreover, dealership technicians are required to follow strict installation procedures and use connection methods that may compromise the covertness of the installation by aftermarket installation professionals.

Additionally, dealership technicians usually follow specifications for the connection and positioning of the tracker provided by the aftermarket supplier. As a result, trackers installed at the dealership are likely to be found in the same locations (model-specific) as factory-fitted trackers. Therefore, unless you have done your research and confirmed that a third-party vehicle security installation professional will perform the installation, it is not recommended to have your tracker installed at the dealership.

It is worth asking the dealership if a third-party security installation professional comes into the dealership to perform their installations, as this can be the case from time to time. Most dealership service departments are usually inundated with their own workload and sometimes choose to outsource installation services to third-party professionals.

Conclusion -

To ensure the safety of your van, it's advisable to invest in an aftermarket security product and have it installed. With the advancement of modern theft techniques, the factory-fitted security features of most vans are no longer sufficient, leading to an increased risk of vehicle theft. It's recommended that you switch off your van's keyless entry system, if possible, and take measures to secure your van's key to avoid relay attack and key cloning. Be cautious of your key's signal being jammed when locking your vehicle and look for an indication from your van that it has received the signal and locked correctly - such as an indicator flash, folded mirror, or horn beep. To ensure theft prevention and facilitate recovery in case of theft, it is suggested that you install an aftermarket tracker and immobiliser, preferably by an industry professional rather than a dealership unless they use industry professionals to carry out this type of work. Activation or reliance on a factory-fitted tracker is not recommended.

Electronic Security

When it comes to electronic security for your van, we strongly recommend installing a Thatcham category S5 van tracker and engine immobiliser. This combination offers excellent protection against modern digital theft methods and allows for a professional, police-backed response in the event that your vehicle is stolen.

It's best to combine both a Thatcham S5 van tracker and engine immobiliser into one system from the same hardware manufacturer, rather than installing them as stand-alone products. This combination provides enhanced functionality and creates a more user-friendly system. In most cases, combined S5 tracker and immobiliser systems can also use the tracker's communication capabilities to remotely control the arming and disarming of the engine immobiliser.

In addition to the S5 tracker and engine immobiliser, it's useful to install an OBD (On Board Diagnostics) port immobiliser to guard against more specialized theft methods that exploit a vehicle’s onboard electronic systems. For example, thieves might use OBD attack/CAN injection to access a vehicle's electronic systems and steal it with ease. Installing an OBD port immobiliser can prevent these modern theft methods by denying thieves easy access to the vehicle’s onboard electronic systems.

Consider installing a wireless back-up car tracker for extra security and peace of mind. A secondary tracker, powered by batteries and operating wirelessly, can be installed in covert locations on your vehicle, such as underneath the vehicle or behind exterior panels. This provides an additional layer of security and ensures that the vehicle can still be tracked if the main tracker is lost.

Physical Security

The use of a steering lock on your van is a good idea. It serves as a physical and visual deterrent. We recommend using the type of steering lock that fits over the entire wheel instead of the bar style that is usually woven through it. Thieves equipped with a battery-powered saw can easily cut through the steering wheel if you use the bar-style lock.

Installing driveway bollards is also a good way to enhance your van's security at home. These bollards can prevent thieves from driving straight off your driveway if they manage to steal your vehicle. Driveway bollards for van security are available in various shapes and configurations, such as fold-down surface mounted posts or assisted-manual lift posts. Some bollards even come with smart technologies for automated lifting and lowering when your vehicle is detected through a motorized mechanism.

While physical van security upgrades are effective, they can be inconvenient and cumbersome. For instance, steering locks need to be locked, unlocked, and stowed away every time you want to drive the car. Similarly, driveway bollards only provide security when your van is at home. Unless you have the budget for an automated system, they usually require the manual operation of multiple posts every time you leave or enter your driveway.

To some up, we would recommend installing a tracker and immobiliser system for van security upgrades. It's a user-friendly system that automatically arms and disarms the immobiliser without the need for driver interaction. It works whether you're at home, work, or abroad, providing security wherever you go. While physical deterrents like driveway bollards or a steering lock can make your van less attractive to thieves, they also serve as effective visual deterrents.

If your insurance company requires a van tracker to be installed in your vehicle, they will typically ask for a professionally monitored tracker that is approved by Thatcham. Even if you are not mandated to have a van tracker for insurance purposes, it is still recommended to have a professionally monitored tracker installed.

Products that are labelled as 'Thatcham Approved' have undergone independent testing by Thatcham, providing assurance regarding their functionality, design, performance, and compliance with legislative and automotive quality standards. Thatcham has established compliance criteria for two Categories of Stolen Vehicle Tracking: Category S7 and Category S5.

Category S7 trackers are standalone units primarily used to secure lower-value, lower-risk vehicles. These trackers provide location data and other essential features such as monitoring driving behaviour. They are connected to a monitoring centre that operates 24/7 with trained personnel who are alerted in case of any suspicious activity detected by the tracker. If any alerts are triggered, the monitoring centre will promptly contact the vehicle owner. S7 van trackers often come with features like vehicle battery disconnection detection and tow-away alerts to prevent potential sabotage. Additionally, the tracking unit has a built-in backup battery that allows it to remain operational even if its power supply is removed. In case of theft, the vehicle owner should report the incident to the secure control room by phone, and the personnel will then collaborate with the police to facilitate the recovery of the stolen vehicle.

Category S5 systems, on the other hand, are designed for higher-value, higher-risk vehicles. They consist of a tracking unit and driver recognition technology, which enables fast proactive alerts for any unauthorised vehicle movement. Driver recognition technology is used to confirm that the driver of the vehicle is authorized. This is often done using a small battery-powered tag attached to the vehicle's key or carried by the driver. When the vehicle's ignition is turned on, the tracking unit scans for the tag's signal. If the tag is detected, the system recognises that an authorised driver is present. However, if the tracking device fails to detect the driver recognition tag, an alert will be sent to the monitoring centre, and the owner of the vehicle will receive a phone call to confirm if a theft has occurred. The monitoring team will then coordinate with the police to facilitate the swift recovery of the vehicle. Unlike S7 systems where theft may go unnoticed for several hours, S5 systems quickly alert to any unauthorised use or theft of the vehicle, ensuring the fastest response from the monitoring team and the police to increase the chances of a safe recovery. S5 systems encompass all the functionality associated with S7 systems but with the additional benefit of driver recognition.

S5 systems include all functionality associated with an S7 but with the added benefit of driver recognition.

If you're considering installing an aftermarket van engine immobiliser or need one for insurance purposes, then you've come to the right place. Specialist Trackers UK is dedicated to offering top-of-the-line van engine immobilisers and combined tracker and immobiliser systems. As insurers strive to reduce van theft, they are turning to engine immobilisers. However, there are currently no specific Thatcham/insurance-approved categories for aftermarket immobilisers, apart from Category 2, which mainly applies to factory-fitted equipment.

This means that whether insurers have the product you want to install on their approval list varies at the moment. However, this doesn't affect the security aspect. Aftermarket van security companies are working diligently to quickly update the insurance companies' lists of accepted products with modern ones. It's important work, as many insurers recommend older, inferior, and discontinued van immobilisers to customers, even though there are better and more modern alternatives available.

An aftermarket immobiliser is an electronic anti-theft device that prevents unauthorised starting of a vehicle's engine. It operates similarly to factory-fitted immobilisers but differs in several aspects.

Firstly, aftermarket immobilisers work independently of your factory-fitted systems, so they are not affected by the presence of your vehicle's key or its signal. This is crucial, as many modern theft methods exploit the vulnerabilities of keyless entry and start systems, making aftermarket immobilisers effective at preventing digital theft methods like relay attacks and key cloning.

Secondly, when paired with a tracker, many modern immobilisers can use over-the-air communications to remotely immobilise the vehicle's engine. These products and more information about them can be found here - Combined Tracker and Immobilisers.

Thirdly, most van engine immobilisers are passive systems that arm and disarm automatically without any input from the driver, achieved through proximity and communication of an ID tag, which uses different technology for communication than the factory vehicle key, making it less vulnerable to signal relaying.

Finally, aftermarket immobilisers are currently superior to factory-fitted van immobilisers for vehicles with keyless entry/start systems. Factory-fitted immobilisers can be disabled in as little as 30 seconds, making them vulnerable to modern digital theft methods like relay attacks, key cloning, and CAN injection.

If you're looking to enhance your vehicle's security, the aftermarket now offers many systems that are far superior to factory-fitted ones. Vehicle manufacturers are behind the advances and threats in vehicle theft techniques, compelling van owners to turn to the aftermarket for new innovations in vehicle security products and technologies to safeguard their vehicles against theft.

If you want to upgrade your van’s security, then a combined van tracker and immobiliser system is the most effective way to do it. Even some van insurers are now requiring their customers to have both a van tracker and an engine immobiliser installed. These combined systems have been popular in the aftermarket for some time, as they offer a great solution to combat van theft and enable recovery capabilities. The aftermarket vehicle security installers have been fitting these combined systems for years to fight modern theft methods.

If you are a potential customer for van security, I would recommend a combined tracker and immobiliser system as the minimum amount of security needed for effective protection against modern theft techniques. This is because modern vehicles with keyless entry/start technologies can easily be stolen, this applies even to older turnkey-style technologies. Thieves can steal a both new and older vans in as little as 30 seconds using modern theft methods such as relay attack, OBD attack and key cloning.

While other types of van security such as trackers are crucial in the recovery of a stolen van, they do not prevent theft. A van fitted with any type of tracker can still be stolen using modern theft methods and provides no increase in a van’s security or theft prevention other than the capability of potentially alerting to the theft attempt and providing positioning data for its hopeful recovery. Therefore, I recommend fitting an aftermarket van immobiliser but pairing it with a tracker. This combination is effective at preventing keyless theft because the immobiliser works independently from your vehicle’s factory security systems and is not disarmed via the factory remote/vehicle key.

A combined tracker and immobiliser system is a van security package that usually includes a category S5 tracker and an engine immobiliser. The engine immobiliser is automatically armed and disarmed by proximity of an the ID tag.

Having a combined tracker and immobiliser system installed in your van is crucial to protect against modern keyless theft techniques such as relay attack, OBD attack and key cloning. The most important feature of this system is the engine immobiliser, which automatically arms and disarms, ensuring that your van is always immobilised when not in use. This helps to prevent the exploitation of keyless entry and start technology and protects your van from many of the modern theft methods.

Most of these systems do not require any input from the driver of the vehicle as they are passive systems. This means that the immobilisation of your van's engine is done automatically, often through the proximity of an ID tag, making it easy for van owners to use day to day.

When considering electronic or physical van security upgrades, it's best to compare their ease of use, cost, range of use, and effectiveness. Electronic van security products typically excel in most aspects except cost. For instance, deterrents such as driveway bollards can be significantly more expensive than any electronic security system available in the aftermarket.

Electronic van security systems, such as trackers and immobilisers, offer real benefits in terms of theft prevention. These systems are simple to use, reasonably priced, and can be used wherever you go. They are also effective in preventing van theft by modern theft techniques.

On the other hand, physical van security deterrents, like steering wheel locks and driveway bollards, provide strong visual deterrence to potential thieves, something that electronic van security systems lack by their very nature as they are intended to be discreet. Steering locks and driveway bollards can deter thieves from attempting to steal your vehicle, while electronic security systems may invite thieves to cause some damage before giving up due to a non-starting engine, for example.

Despite the advantages of physical deterrents for van security, they also have their downsides. Steering locks are cumbersome to operate, move, and stow away, while driveway bollards require constant manual operation. Additionally, driveway bollards only provide security while your vehicle is at home and do not offer van security once you leave your driveway.

In conclusion, there's no harm in combining electronic and physical deterrents for improved van security, but it's recommended to install your electronic van security first. Since electronic security is intended to be installed professionally and covertly, it's not advisable to display any stickers or other indications that could alert would-be thieves to the presence of a tracker or immobiliser on the van. This lack of visibility keeps thieves guessing as to whether they would be wasting their time trying to steal a van that potentially might have such systems installed.

However, a van not displaying any indication of an aftermarket security upgrade may seem attractive to thieves, so physical deterrents such as steering wheel locks, driveway bollards, and even dash cams could be used.

Its simple!

1. Select the product you wish to have installed and either add it to your bag or go straight ahead and purchase it.

2. Once purchased Specialised Trackers UK will contact you that same day to arrange a date and time for your installation.

3. Once your product has been installed you will automatically receive your ‘proof of installation certificate’ via email. This is the important bit your insurer will be wanting from you to prove the product has been fitted.

4. Your all set and now insurance compliant.