World champion
BRITISH car thieves, already renowned as the most determined and skilled in Europe, are scaling new heights of ingenuity. The latest fashion in anti-theft devices are electronic trackers hidden within a car which continually broadcast high-frequency radio signals, pinpointing its position and alerting police to any unauthorised movement. Mostly fitted to high-priced models, trackers were supposed to be thief-proof. They have, indeed, made it more risky to make off with a vehicle. About 5% of stolen vehicles fitted with trackers are not recovered, compared with 37% of cars without such devices, according to the police. But that still leaves 5% that get away. How do they do it?
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “World champion”
From the September 13th 1997 edition
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