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Vehicle tracking into the 21st century - beating the car bandits

Since 1993, the level of hijackings and vehicle theft in South Africa has risen dramatically and in 1999 over 120 000 vehicles were stolen nationally. Shortly before Christmas, a police operation involving seven African countries recovered over 100 stolen or hijacked vehicles valued at around R8 million in Lusaka. Many were luxury cars whose number plates had been changed, window identification numbers erased and engine identification plates removed.

According to police reports, syndicates, of which there are more than 500, have interwoven a network of corrupt officials in all key areas, notably licensing departments and border posts, to ensure that vehicles slip through undetected. With a ready market in neighbouring states for vehicles of all types, the threat to vehicle owners continues to escalate. Within the last few years, the ratio of vehicles hijacked or stolen had risen from one out of 20 to one out of six. Gauteng's theft statistics are close to three times the national average and hijackings are also substantially higher. According to the latest statistics from Bandit's control room, 70% of its clients' vehicle losses are due to hijackings and 30% are the result of theft.

Vehicles can be protected statically in two ways: either mechanically or electronically. Mechanical products to counter static theft include a wide range of gearlocks, steering wheel locks and crook locks, all at varying levels of effectiveness.

"The trend is towards smaller, stronger gearlocks and the best products meet the standards set by VESA, the Vehicle Security Association of South Africa," explains Allon Raiz, Marketing Director of Bandit Vehicle Security Systems. "In contrast, Australia, Canada and the UK require a lower standard.

"Over the past five years, new innovations from Bandit's research and development team have included a harder shackle, which is resistant to acid, liquid nitrogen, sawing and bolt-cutters, a sophisticated key with a personal key code, and a steel bracket attached with tamperproof shear-off bolts. Options include side locks, top locks and concealed locks."

Companies providing stolen vehicle recovery services make joint use of satellite and terrestrial networks to track privately owned and commercial vehicles. Since a wide range of companies have entered the market, offering services which vary substantially, an independent regulatory body was launched last March by VESA and the South African Insurance Association (SAIA). At present there are only four companies providing track and recovery services that meet the required standards and specifications and are able to successfully track and recover more than 80% of stolen vehicles.

Bandit has its own air and ground recovery crews and it is not uncommon to see Managing Director Jeremy Davidson taking charge of the air recovery crew

"Due to the high cost of providing an efficient national track and recovery service, many companies only offer tracking and rely on the police to recover," says Raiz. "Bandit has its own air and ground recovery crews and has invested more than R2,5 million in control room equipment.

"Bandit was invited by Denel, previously Armscor, to participate in a joint development programme. The result of the two-year project was Intertrac, a unique stolen vehicle recovery system which uses advanced tracking technology developed initially for military applications.

"Hijackers capitalise on what is known as the 'dead' area phenomenon by driving stolen vehicles into valleys, under cliffs or into locations that are not yet covered by terrestrial networks. By activating two track and recovery technologies simultaneously, the Intertrac system is able to overcome the 'dead' areas present in all communication networks in this country. The technology also enables the company to track vehicles which have been taken across South Africa's borders."

According to Raiz, the most effective method of vehicle tracking combines air and ground crews. Speed is of the essence, since chop shops have refined vehicle stripping to a fine art and can demolish a car in less than six minutes.

"The speed with which Intertrac-fitted vehicles are recovered - often within an hour - is due largely to the system's unique remote immobilisation feature," explains Raiz. "Directly after an emergency phone call is received from the abandoned driver by the control room, this feature will be activated - provided any passengers are also safely outside. Immobilisation is a gradual process which takes place over a 90-second period, during which the hazard lights will flash to warn other motorists. Once the vehicle is recovered, it is returned directly to the owner and not impounded, in order to prevent subsequent losses or stripping."

Previously, cars in the R150 000 categories were most likely to be hijacked. Today, the vehicles most vulnerable are in the R25 000 to R75 000 categories. There is also an escalating demand for 4x4s, which is attributed to the growing export market into Africa and the large market for parts. According to Conroy Oosthuizen, VESA's Managing Director, most insurance companies now offer premium reductions of between 15 and 25% on VESA-approved systems.

For further details contact Allon Raiz, Bandit Vehicle Security Systems, tel: (011) 783 3815, fax: (011) 883 1435, e-mail: raiz@icon.co.za

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