Search
Close this search box.
Sign up for our weekly Newsletter

Forget Jack Frost – think Frost-Jack

Crime known as ‘frost-jacking’ is usually opportunist, when thieves see an unattended car with the keys in the ignition as drivers wait to thaw out frosted windows or warm up cars on bitterly cold days.
Vehicle security

Share

5 December 2019

AS the winter weather approaches TRACKER, the stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) expert is urging fleet managers and SMEs to make company car drivers aware of the risk of ‘frost-jacking’.

Applying common-sense when defrosting windows or warming the interior of vehicles this winter should put paid to heartache, headache and higher insurance premiums.

The crime known as ‘frost-jacking’ is usually an opportunist crime, when thieves see an unattended car with the keys in the ignition as drivers wait to thaw out frosted windows or warm up cars on bitterly cold days.

Cases have already started to be reported, with two cars stolen in one morning last month when temperatures started to drop.[However, many cases are as a result of organised by criminal gangs being on the prowl, looking for an easy target.

What’s more, businesses need to be aware many insurance companies are unwilling to pay out on frost-jacked cars.

Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison for TRACKER, said: “Drivers may be lulled into a false sense of security thinking the company car is safe on their private driveway or in the company car park, with the engine running, while they nip back inside to stay in the warm for 15 minutes.

“The reality is, it isn’t; the crime is so rife that the Central Motorway Police Group, covering Staffordshire and West Midlands, was forced to tweet, asking motorists to stop leaving running cars unattended after a stolen car was reported every five minutes one winter.

“Fleet managers and business owners have a duty of care to ensure employees are aware they can be fined and face other penalties for failing to de-ice their car windows properly in freezing weather.

“So, while it is imperative they fully defrost the windows, they need to be vigilant in never leaving their car unattended and unprotected with the keys in the ignition.”

TRACKER is the only SVR provider offering vehicle tracking systems that are supported nationwide by UK police forces.

Its SVR solutions work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. There is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t even know it’s there.

The combination of VHF with GPS/GSM technology, unique to TRACKER, makes its units resistant to jamming, confirming TRACKER as a superior security defense against determined thieves.

Share this article

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Reddit
Email

Want more motoring news?

Sign up here for our free weekly serving of motoring.

Sign up here for our free weekly serving of motoring.

Chris Wright

Chris Wright

Chris Wright has been covering the automotive industry nationally and internationally for 30 years. Following spells with consumer titles he became News Editor of Automotive Management (AM), Editor of Automotive International, International Editor for Detroit-based Automotive News, and Editor of Dealer Update. He has also co-authored several FT Management Reports and contributes regularly to Justauto.com

Latest news

Top