Trackers and them being found.

[King Rat]

Considering tracking ghizmos, not just for the bike but for outboard motors too (they are very susceptible to being stolen).

I have looked at various and Rhinokey is ticking many boxes for me. Credit card sized, so easily hidden, wireless charging on their disc charger and gives about 5 months between charges - so call it 4 months. BUT being small, discreet and therefor can be placed where it is easy to access, battery life isn't that much of a problem. What is really attracting me to them is they are not discoverable by the general tracker finding whatsits.

A friend had one on his Triumph 660 thing and it is still pinging him the whereabouts 4 months after it was stolen. The Police are not interested, even though it hasn't gone outside a 15 mile radius of where it was stolen from the Motorcycle Museum by the NEC. He is still getting the signals back, which means the scrotes haven't discovered it has a tracker on it. He doesn't want to interfere because his insurance paid out with a very acceptable offer, only £150 less than he paid for it a year earlier - and not knowing how it has been treated in the meantime he doesn't want it back. I am very surprised the Police are not interested in following up the known whereabouts though.

Anyone any thoughts on these - and any thoughts on WHY the Police will not follow up a tracker?

Rhinokey® Smartcard

The world's thinnest trackable credit card sized card, designed in the Netherlands, compatible with Apple's Find My or Android Google Find Hub, and wireless rechargeability.

www.rhinokey.co.uk

 

[Wapping]

d any thoughts on WHY the Police will not follow up a tracker?

Because the police are busy doing the other myriad of things that subscribers to UKGSer demand of them.

Alternatively, when the claim was settled in full, the vehicle became the property of the insurer. They have no real interest in possibly cooperating with the police (or finding the vehicle themselves) so will not pursue it further.

 

[Barnoe]

A friend had one on his Triumph 660 thing and it is still pinging him the whereabouts 4 months after it was stolen.

you will probably find its just the tracker in a field somewhere, like we have every time plant is stolen at work.

 

[Micky]

Back in the day we used to love it when a tracker was activated ... hours of fun. Rotherham Traffic car patrols and a couple of us bikers ... hours of fun

Often the vehicle would be abandoned in a lock up and left for a few days to see if a tracker was fitted. ....

Hours of fun

 

[King Rat]

you will probably find its just the tracker in a field somewhere, like we have every time plant is stolen at work.

Oh no it isn't, the live 'blue dot' is travelling around the same area. It shows as moving and shows stationary at the same address.

 

[King Rat]

Back in the day we used to love it when a tracker was activated ... hours of fun. Rotherham Traffic car patrols and a couple of us bikers ... hours of fun

Often the vehicle would be abandoned in a lock up and left for a few days to see if a tracker was fitted. ....

Hours of fun

But this is an active 'blue dot' on the map. It goes back to the same address each night, so is obviously just being used, probably on a different plate!

 

[Barnoe]

But this is an active 'blue dot' on the map. It goes back to the same address each night, so is obviously just being used, probably on a different plate!

Well then i have to ask the obvious question.

If he knows where its going each night why hasn't he gone and got it back?

 

[King Rat]

Well then i have to ask the obvious question.

If he knows where its going each night why hasn't he gone and got it back?

Because he got paid out by the insurance and doesn't want it back, it could be ragged to death for all we know.

He contacted the Police, and has shown them the live tracker - that begs the question, "why haven't the Police gone and arrested the thief(ves) or the person that has handled stolen goods?"

I would be asking serious questions of the Police if it were mine. The Crime Commissioner would have a very stern letter, as would my MP and probably one addressed directly to the Chief Constable of the force, marked 'private and confidential'.

 

[Barnoe]

Because he got paid out by the insurance and doesn't want it back, it could be ragged to death for all we know.

Maybe but he should get the satisfaction of bending a nose or two.

I would be asking serious questions of the Police if it were mine. The Crime Commissioner would have a very stern letter, as would my MP and probably one addressed directly to the Chief Constable of the force, marked 'private and confidential'.

their reaction would probably be radio silence.

 

[Snaf]

The police won't respond because it's not a monitored tracking device, it only reports where it last made contact with a network.

 

[Davey B]

There are two things at odds in this thread....the fellers tracking device and the actual Tracker that the police have kit to home in on. (It is doubtful that this chaps is an actual 'Tracker' TM)
The active blue dot is perhaps only on your mates map on his phone, it is very doubtful that the police have any kit that will detect it unless your mate badgers them and shows them his phone or the tracking company is involved and they are in direct contact with the police. I'm surprised the company aren't banging the drum with this, they will thrive off success stories on their website/sales pitch. Is your mate in contact with the tracking firm to get them to take action with the Police?
There may be more to this than your mate is letting on, these are often easy hits for the Police. If they really are so shite and inactive, regardless of the payout, I'd be harrassing the local Police boss and PCC.

Whilst spending time in the Police Helicopter, I've lost count of how many Tracker activations we either went to or found whilst flying about. We also occasionally got live reporting of other tracking systems (this was 2003 to 2010 so there'll be many more systems fitted now) but as they often came 3rd or 4th hand, we were often behind the curve....we had great success when we could finally ring the company from the helicopter and get proper live updates)

 

[King Rat]

It is a private tracker, not monitored - but that is why the bike is still active, it is only visible to the phone linked to it. That is why I was thinking of getting some (package deal of 3 trackers and charger for £64) No subscription to pay.

 

[casbar]

Sounded interesting, bit of googling turns up the pros and cons. If they use Apple find me, then anyone with an apple phone will know they are near a tracking device.

Pros for Motorcycles

• • Slim profile: The credit-card-thin design easily hides under a seat, inside a manual pouch, or behind a body panel.
  • No monthly fees: It leverages existing crowdsourced device networks instead of requiring a dedicated cellular SIM subscription.
  • Rechargeable: It features wireless recharging rather than requiring disposable coin-cell battery swaps.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Cons & Limitations

• • Network dependence: It relies on nearby phones (Apple or Android) passing by your motorcycle to update its location, which is unreliable in rural areas or empty parking lots. [1, 2]
  • Build and software complaints: Users on community forums frequently report inconsistent syncing, unhelpful customer service, and cheap construction. [1]
  • Not a true GPS tracker: It lacks real-time independent tracking and anti-tamper alerts that dedicated hardwired motorcycle security systems offer.

 

[Davey B]

It is a private tracker, not monitored - but that is why the bike is still active, it is only visible to the phone linked to it. That is why I was thinking of getting some (package deal of 3 trackers and charger for £64) No subscription to pay.

It's been a waste of money for your mate...bike got nicked, he got paid out and it seems to be stressing him that the police can't or won't do anything...he knows where his nicked bike is...been paid out etc etc.

 

[Wapping]

The Crime Commissioner would have a very stern letter…..

Bring forth the vellum, quill and sealing wax!

 

[SBD]

I’d imagine that the insurance could sum up what it has cost them in payout and admin, and could get a court order for a couple of bailiffs to recover property to the value of. I’m not sure why they wouldn’t, except it’s a load of hassle, probably gets them a bad name and the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.

Then again, if it became common practice and scrotes faced having their car, phone, telly and iPad confiscated to cover the not inconsiderable costs, perhaps it might give them cause to reflect upon their actions.

This might be a good thing.

 

[King Rat]

Bring forth the vellum, quill and sealing wax!

Abso-blooming-lutely!

Interesting side note: to apply for the renewal of my shotgun certificate, the Police in question would prefer all applications to be done online, including sending a digital photograph. However, they can ONLY take payment by cheque or Postal Order! I didn't realise there were digital cheques and postal orders.... back to the paper form it is then! (I have already submitted the relevant required inclusions with the form, together with my Nat West cheque that still has pictures of animals on it, I got a stock of cheque books when I discovered they were going to cease the nature picture version!)

 

[Wapping]

Abso-blooming-lutely!

Be sure to start your letter:

‘Am I the only one that….. ‘

 

[King Rat]

Be sure to start your letter:

‘Am I the only one that….. ‘

I won't be doing that, because it would be wholly inaccurate.