Tracker

[cr13]

Just wondering if anyone has used or fitted a tracking system to their bike?? Ive seen a couple of systems that you pay companies to monitor and others that work through your PC. My thoughts are if i buy a gs12 its bloody dear and i dont want it disappearing!! All advice appreciated

 

[Gas'd Off]

If you can afford it, it will give very good peace of mind
tracker

 

[GSmonkey]

Doesn't seem worth it for the value of the bike - better off spending the installation money on chains and ground anchors - they don't have an annual subscription.

 

[cr13]

chains etc ok but easily removed, if it goes missing i want the feckers caught or atleast recover my bike, oxy acetelene and hydraulic cutters destroy locks etc no probs

 

[admiral]

I bought a 'desirable' car a while ago with Tracker already fitted, but i thought it a little expensive so did not register it. My choice, my risk.
However, I understand that not all police forces equip their cars with appropriate tracking devices. Coverage is 'patchy'. So the car could be nicked, sending out all the right signals, but the local police may not 'see' it.
Try to find out what equipment your local police have, and how many cars are kitted out.

Regards

 

[Gas'd Off]

Coverage is 'patchy'. So the car could be nicked, sending out all the right signals, but the local police may not 'see' it.

As I understand it, it is not the Police who TRACK a stolen vehicle, it is the tracking company. They then forward the info to the Police. If it wasn`t so expensive I would fit it in a jiffy. The thought of being able to track down the vile f**kers who steal bikes is a nice one

 

[admiral]

May have moved on since I was last interested. However, I've just had a look at the Tracker site. The commercial products seem very sophisticated using GPS and GSM etc technology. However, for the private motorist, Tracker 'Retrieve', 'Monitor', Horizon' & 'Echo' all have the phrase:

'The silent signal can now be picked up by any of the UK's 52 police forces that are within the vicinity of the stolen vehicle'.

So it looks as if you still have to rely on the local force being equipped to pick up the 'silent signal'. A few years ago this police coverage ranged from comprehensive to non-existent, depending on the force.
Maybe there is a traffic policeman on this board who could provide details of police commitment to the Tracker service.

Regards

 

[MikeP]

Maybe there is a traffic policeman on this board who could provide details of police commitment to the Tracker service.

Commenting might be bit of a 'poison chalice' for serving officers so here's the comments from an ex-Traffic officer and someone who spent the last eight years dealing specifically with vehicle crime.

It's true that coverage can be patchy around the country. When the systen was introduced, the company fitted the receivers and provided training. When the first vehicles fitted came to the end of their working life the equipment was removed and sometimes wasn't re-fitted because no-one would pay for the re-fit (or at least their was some argy-bargy over funding).

Training then became an issue because of the 'abstraction' from patrolling and shortage of equipped vehicles.

The latest detectors are much smaller and less of a problem to install so there are more vehicles fitted than there were a few years back.

There are still problems with signal strength and direction in urban areas. The best results are gained when aircraft are used with ground units.

Thieves are no longer really deterred by Tracker fitted private vehicles because they know that it's activation requires the owner to report the theft to police, report to Tracker, Tracker to confirm with police before the signal is sent. Even if you knew your vehicle was stolen from the moment it was taken, it still might take a while to get the signal started. That's before the signal is picked up by a patrol vehicle that might be close enough to do so.

The signal can be screened.

Thieves will take a vehicle, park it up and return a couple of days later to see if it has been recovered. If not, it's safe to make use of.

They will also try to find the tracker unit, doing considerable damage in their haste.

The GPS versions are less subject to these problems as they can be tracked in real time.

You pays your money etc.

If they want it badly enough, they will get it, regardless of what 'passive' and 'active' systems in use.

If you want to improve chances of detection (after theft) the best thing you can do is mark as many components as possible, perhaps adding some kind of obvious marking such as Datatag etc.

Personally I have used a UV Marker Pen (free from Crime Prevention Offices) and written the last seven characters of the VIN all over the bike in out of the way places. I've made a list of these markings and where they are. If my bike gets stolen I will hand over a copy of this list to police.

 

[badger1]

Some info on the subject of stolen vehicle tracking which may be of interest.

GPS/GSM may sound sophisticated - cynics may argue there's more to go wrong! You should ask about numbers sold; reliability (especially for m/c use); warranty; recovery rate; supplier longevity. Thatcham approval is worth checking for too - without Q Class listing, your insurance company won't be interested.

Signal jammers are readily available (try ebay!) and any serious tea-leaf will be so equipped. More likely is a quick exit with your pride and joy in the back of a van...which stops the GPS receiver seeing the satellites and hence no position reporting, even assuming the GSM (mobile phone) comms module can still provide service.

In this situation, the signal from a Tracker unit will still work (it uses a lower frequency than GSM). There have been reports of cars being located & recovered from sealed shipping containers.

UK police aircraft are fitted with Tracker locating units which as MikeP states, provide enhanced detection range. Also, m/c installations provide a stronger signal because the antenna is not screened by car (metal) bodywork.

 

[Davey B]

As described above, two big differances betweent eh tracking devices. Tracker sends a signal that Tracker equipped Police Vehicles respond to, the other systems work off GPS and a control room somewhere that then has to contact the Police and the Police controller then have to contact the bobbies out on the street. If someone doesn't take charge quickly, the 2nd system is pants as far as Police are concerned. It needs a 'go between' to pass messages on location etc asap. This doesn't often happen
West Yorkshire have alot of tracker equipped vehicles and the force helicopter will take off and try to home in if a tracker equipped vehicle has been stolen and circulated. I could find out figures, but we do find loads of tracker equipped cars abandoned and several instances with the thieves making off from them on foot and getting locked up.
I wouldn't bother personally. I spent less than the cost of a tracker on GAP insurance so if my bike goes, i don't lose out. I once dealt with a bike thief who stated that within 4 hours of the bike getting nicked at 3am, it was 150 miles away in bits, they'd have found the tracker and binned it in any case,,,,and it wasn't until 9am that the owner discovered the loss.

 

[GSmonkey]

chains etc ok but easily removed, if it goes missing i want the feckers caught or atleast recover my bike, oxy acetelene and hydraulic cutters destroy locks etc no probs

Some easier than others. Try here. 80% of bikes are stolen from home....get yourself a decent chain & anchor and the guys will be put off to some degree and may go elsewhere. But if you're after "justice" - the tracker would be the best way to go. Although a video capture camera in your garage would go down well as evidence as well

 

[cr13]

Gone with motion sensored cameras onto a dvr with an alarm on garage (internal sounder in house) 11mm heavy link chain and approved locks. Oh also got 2 trained attack/guard dogs as my companions now

 

[Gandan]

Just put a shallow moat around your shed and wire the doors to the mains. Get yourself a couple of rottweilers from the local animal shelter and an industrial mincing machine, hey presto! Crime reduction,animal welfare,waste recycling,reducng the prison population, easing the burden of the benefit system, and drug abusers rehab. You could recycle the clothing. You'll be on the honours list before you know it!
Oh and dont forget to turn it off in the morning!

 

[cr13]

The dogs are Rottweiler / Mastiff crosses. very large and impressive but fantastic temprament

 

[Den]

80% of bikes are stolen from home....get yourself a decent chain & anchor and the guys

OR, keep your bike at your mates home. And you look after his.