Car theft has always been an issue for dealers. These days though, its not just the cars themselves that need to be protected. With soaring metal and fuel prices, thieves are increasingly arriving with specific targets in mind. For example, the average catalytic converter contains one to two grams of three precious metals – platinum, palladium, and rhodium – and the international prices of these metals have risen by 67%, 200%, and 600% respectively over the past two years.
“The penny has dropped with the thieves that there is a market for them. The demand in the Far East for these metals is huge”, says Det Sgt Andy Round, who heads TruckPol, a national intelligence unit that forms part of the wider ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service. “We’re also seeing engines, gearboxes, axles and wheels stolen. Lorries were the first target but they also see smaller vehicles as just as easy targets”, he added.
ICU2 Security Ltd has a long association with car dealerships, large and small, throughout the UK. Our experience, built up over many years, means that we know the scams, the attacks, and how best to protect against them. We continue to develop and deploy the very latest technologies and monitoring techniques, to stay one step ahead of the thieves.
