Chinese business owners targeted by tracker gang

Last week, Jun20-2022, West Yorkshire Police reported that a criminal gang who placed tracking devices on the cars of Chinese business owners in Leeds, in order to target their homes for burglary, had been jailed, you can read the article here. 

The gang believed the owners would store large amounts of cash at their homes and while cash was stolen the amounts have not been disclosed. The gang connected movements through technical tracking devices on vehicles, connecting parties to other homes, to additionally target these.

One of the victims reported someone had been seen going under their vehicle, they checked but found nothing untoward. Police subsequently found a device attached to the vehicle. 

Other tracker crimes

It is not just cash thieves have targeted in this manner. High value vehicles have been targeted through a range of different tracking devices. With the theft of 48,400 vehicles reported by UK Police in 2021, car thefts are big business, and these trackers offer thieves the ability to quickly find, track and steal vehicles. 

As technology advances and location enabled devices increase in number, the ability and opportunity to track people and things is becoming easier and greater, and often more difficult to detect. We look at a few ways you can reduce your exposure to these types of incidents. 

Understand what might make you a target 

Understanding what might make you a target and therefore a subject of surveillance is an important first step and it is important to remember this will not happen to the majority of us. To a number of our clients, surveillance does pose a risk and we constantly evaluate this risk on an ongoing basis. 

In this case it was the perceived storage of large amounts of cash, but it could be your vehicle, or your routines which are of interest. In our podcast, the secret world of surveillance, we explored the legitimate and illegal reasons you may come under surveillance and importantly when and what techniques can be used including tracking devices. 

Think about where you leave your vehicle 

If you do evaluate that there is a credible surveillance risk to you, reducing the opportunity for trackers to be placed is important. Leaving vehicles in quiet low footfall areas, can make life easier for those wishing to place a device, a high street would prove more difficult, but not impossible. You will also be more vulnerable at known regular locations such as your work or home addresses. 

Professional Help 

In this case, the owner conducted a cursory check of their vehicle, missing the tracking device. It is likely that they didn’t really know what they were looking for and the reason someone had been under their car. If you find yourself in this position, speak to a professional who will be familiar with the types and placement of trackers and can conduct a thorough search for you. BluSkills security chauffeurs and protection officers, regularly conduct such searches on our client’s vehicles to detect foreign devices. 

Summary

The placement of tracking devices for use in crime is not indiscriminate, there are key red flags which should allow you to make a decision on whether you face an increased risk. The full extent of the use of trackers is likely unknown. Successful thefts of vehicles and homes targeted for burglary through tracking of vehicles are potentially unknown if good practices are employed and trackers are removed, with only the failed attempts making the news and Office for National Statistics (ONS) reporting. 

If you would like to speak to one of our experts about concerns or questions you may have on this topic, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today on 0333 3056615 or complete the form below.