Why Phantom Tracking Systems

Tracking Systems and Accessories

WHY PHANTOM How fitting a tracker will help to protect your caravan or motorhome

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How fitting a tracker will help to protect your caravan or motorhome The cost and sophistication of modern caravans and motorhomes makes them an attractive proposition for a thief. Even investing in additional locks and alarms may not be enough to deter the most determined crook. Go online now and you will quickly find whole Web sites dedicated to helping owners retrieve stolen caravans and motorhomes.

In many cases these are never recovered, leading to the cost of insurance excess payments as well as increased premiums.

Additionally the settlement may be less than hoped for causing more hassle and stress when looking for a replacement.

Within 40 minutes the caravan was pulled over by police and the thief apprehended

Operation Club used the information from Phantom trackers in court to show the link between stolen caravans and an organised crime group.

This led to convictions, the recovery of £700,000 worth of caravans and motorhomes and a 47% reduction in caravan theft.

The best way of beating thieves A recent initiative by Wiltshire Police showed that location specific information provided by a tracking device is the best way of beating caravan and motorhome thieves as they improve the chances of a quick recovery. Operation Club used the information from Phantom trackers in court to show the link between stolen caravans and an organised crime group. This led to convictions, the recovery of £700,000 worth of caravans and motorhomes and a 47% reduction in caravan theft.

But, with all the different tracking units around how do you know which is the best option for you? Basically a tracker is a small device that is hidden within your caravan or motorhome that is powered from the vehicle battery, in addition it has its own battery in case power is cut. All trackers for caravans and motorhomes can be split into 2 general categories – passive and proactive.

Passive – this type of unit is dependent on the owner informing a control centre that the vehicle has been stolen.

The control centre can then communicate with the device to find out its exact location and will liaise with the police and owners to ensure the vehicle’s safe return.

Proactive – a proactive tracker unit will automatically alert a control centre that a theft is in progress by continually monitoring motion of the vehicle or if the power is cut. The location of the vehicle can then be tracked in conjunction with the police and owner.

With a proactive unit, in most cases the thieves will be apprehended within an hour as a recent example of the theft a Sterling Eccles Elite explorer caravan in East Yorkshire showed. We were alerted by the tracking unit at 13.10pm and after ascertaining that it was not a false alarm notified the police. Within 40 minutes the caravan was pulled over by police and the thief apprehended at the M62 A1 junction.

It is one of the easiest things we can fit to make a caravan safer.

It provides extra security that an alarm does not give.

Nigel Harris of the Midlands largest caravan retailer– Broadlane

90% of our stolen vehicles are recovered within 60 mins Insurers in particular recommend fitting a tracking device to your caravan or motorhome as we found when we spoke to Craig Thompson, director at insurers Caravan Guard. “As one of the first bespoke caravan tracking devices and one of the most widely fitted devices in the caravan industry, it’s played a significant role in reducing caravan thefts over the last decade. It’s clear to see the device has developed over the years and in its latest Proactive form delivers an extensive range of features relevant to caravan and motorhome owners.”

Trackers are now essential on all high-value caravans and motorhomes also for owners of models that are specifically attractive to thieves such as large twin-axle models and continental and imported brands. There is a financial incentive in the form or reduced premiums for those owners who fit a tracker. Typically, premiums are 20% less for caravans and 10% for motorhomes. Which over the life of a vehicle can provide a very compelling return on investment.

As one of the first bespoke caravan tracking devices and one of the most widely fitted devices in the caravan industry, it’s played a significant role in reducing caravan theft.fts over Craig Thompson, Caravan Guard

It is without doubt the best way of safeguarding your caravan as it covered across the whole of the UK as well as Europe and Ireland. We always recommend them to our customers.

Protection across the UK, Ireland and Europe Caravan retailers are also big believers in trackers as Nigel Harris of the Midlands largest caravan retailer – Broadlane - explained. ”It is one of the easiest things we can fit to make a caravan safer.

It provides extra security that an alarm does not give.

it can be days or weeks before this is found out.

With a proactive tracker fitted, you will know straight away if it is being stolen and there is a much greater chance of it being recovered.

With the decrease in insurance premiums that it attracts, the money spent on fitting it will be quickly recouped.

“It is without doubt the best way of safeguarding your caravan as it covered across the whole of the UK as well as Europe and Ireland. We always recommend them to our customers.”

“In most cases a caravan is stored away from the owner’s premises when they are not actually in use. This means that if they are moved or stolen

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Protecting personal possessions As well as the caravan or motorhome itself there are also the owner’s personal possessions to consider as security expert Tim Booth, AVCIS leisure vehicles officer (http://www.timboothcsl.co.uk/) explained. “If you asked most people if they would prefer to get back their caravan or possessions after a theft, I reckon over 90% would say possessions.

Most tracking devices cannot really help with this as by the time the caravan has been recovered the thieves would have disposed of all the owner’s personal possessions.

stolen caravan or motorhome once it is in motion.

The thief will be desperate to get away and will not be too concerned what happens to the caravan or the danger they cause to other road users.

“The continuous information the unit provides enables the Police to monitor speed and the likely roads the thief will use and so enable them to stop the vehicle in a controlled and safe way, without putting other road users or the caravan at risk.”

The continuous information the unit provides enables the Police to monitor speed and the likely roads the thief will use and so enable them to stop the vehicle in a controlled and safe way, without putting other road users or the caravan at risk.

Tim Booth, AVCIS leisure vehicles officer

“The Phantom Proactive helps prevent this as it is constantly monitoring the vehicle, irrespective of where it is parked. So as soon as motion is detected, as in the case of a door or window being forced, the control centre will be notified and they can send someone to check out what is happening. This fast response is vital in stopping precious possessions being lost.”

The Phantom Proactive also gives the Police greater control over when they can actually apprehend a stolen vehicle as Tim also explained. “The Police need to be careful where and when they stop a

What to look for in a tracker When choosing a tracker for your caravan or motorhome it is worth asking a few questions to find out if it us up to the job: Coverage - Make sure the one you choose can o perate in the countries you plan to visit.

You should look for full European monitoring and recovery with accredited monitoring centres to co-ordinate police response on your behalf in European countries.

Monitoring – your vehicle can be stolen at any time so you want the monitoring centre to operate round the clock and be able to respond immediately in the event of a theft and liaise with the police to recover your vehicle.

Certifications – Phantoms tracking system

and all associated equipment has been fully tested by Sold Secure to gold standard.

The Phantom Pro ii is fully VCA approved (e11*72/245*2009/19*5791*00) and meets all recommendations in accordance with the fitting of security devices in vehicles in the UK .

Low battery alert - If your caravan or motorhome is not used for long periods, battery power to your tracker could soon run out, rendering it useless. Make sure your device will automatically alert you or your call centre if battery power runs low.

A rising trend The argument for installing a tracker in your caravan or motorhome is compelling. Apart from the fact that the initial costs will quickly be recovered by reduced insurance premiums. The peace of mind it brings is priceless. In 2008 the AA estimated that 4000 caravans a year were being stolen, with this figure likely to have increased in the last 3 years with caravanning becoming more popular.

It is being increasingly apparent that more caravans are being stolen to order, particularly at the highvalue end of the market. So choosing and installing the right tracker is vital. Phantom trackers already protect over £500M worth of assets for nearly 20,000 customers.

So to make sure you don’t suffer the stress and inconvenience of having yours stolen, get a tracker fitted today. To find out more about how Phantom trackers are amongst the best in the business, contact us today on 0845 130 3301

Tracking Systems and Accessories

T: 0845 130 3301 F: 0845 130 1378 E: info@phantom.uk.net

149 Broadstone Road Reddish Stockport Cheshire SK5 7GA

Tracking Systems and Accessories

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