Summer Security Tips From Tracker

Whether you're setting off on a motoring holiday or jetting off and leaving your car at home, you will want to do all you can to make sure your holiday is not ruined by thieves.

Last year, 30 per cent of TRACKER-fitted cars stolen were stolen in the summer months of June, July and August. If you are leaving your car at home it could be left for weeks on end without anybody checking up on it, while if you are taking it with you, you might have to park it in remote and unfamiliar areas, at the countryside or by the beach leaving it for long periods. This, combined with a tendency of drivers to leave windows slightly ajar to cool their vehicle and sometimes even leaving the roof down of drop-tops, means opportunist thieves find the summer provides rich pickings.

So what should you do to ensure that your holiday is not ruined by thieves?

If you are leaving your car at home:

* Make sure all doors are locked, the windows and sun-roof are shut and that all valuables are removed from your car;

* Ensure all anti-theft devices are working and are primed;

* If you have a tracking device, make sure the company knows how to contact you in the event of a theft alert;

* If you have a garage, use it, lock it, and put your car out of sight of prying eyes;

* Tell your neighbours that you will be away and ask them to check on your car regularly;

* Either leave your car keys and garage keys with a neighbour or hidden.

If you are taking your car with you:

• Whenever your car is left, even for a moment and no matter how hot the conditions, ensure all the doors are locked and that the windows and sun-roof are closed;
  
• Do not leave any valuables on view in your car. If you have to leave personal belongings, lock them in the boot;
  
• If you have a stereo with a detachable front, always remove it and hide it from view;
  
• Always park in well-lit, open locations if possible, or in secure car parks;
  
• Consider fitting additional security such as a steering wheel lock or a tracking device;
  
• Always keep your keys in a safe place when not using your car, out of sight.
  

For peace of mind when leaving your car behind, consider fitting a tracking device. For example, if your car is illegally moved while you are away, TRACKER Monitor and TRACKER Horizon, will immediately alert TRACKER HQ so it can be tracked by one of the UK's 52 police forces. In addition, UK TRACKER-fitted vehicles can now also be tracked in France and Spain, as well as in mainland Great Britain, so if your vehicle goes missing it can be tracked by the local police forces and returned to its rightful owner.

TRACKER is an electronic homing device, secretly hidden within vehicles. When activated in the event of a theft, it emits a silent radio signal that can be picked up by detection equipment fitted in police vehicles leading them to the vehicle's exact location and sometimes the unsuspecting thieves. TRACKER, the UK's leading stolen vehicle recovery system, is now fitted to more than 550,000 vehicles in the UK, has helped the police in the recovery of more than 11,700 vehicles worth