Over 100,000 cars are stolen in the UK every year and around 50 per cent are taken with the use of electronic devices.

Traditionally, thieves have used crowbars and axes to gain access to vehicles. But increasingly, many are using electronic devices to obtain access to cars and take control of these prized motoring assets. It is rare for thieves to pick locks (relatively easy with older cars) or smash windows unless they are looking for a specific item of value in a smash-and-grab incident. 

Now, one vehicle tracking specialist claims to have solved the problem. It is called Trackstar Advance and the company behind the technology says it has been developed to address the changing trend as more criminals steal vehicles with electronic devices.  

The new tracking system is armed with features and enhancements to combat electronic theft. It incorporates technology for theft prevention, in addition to holding existing stolen vehicle tracking capabilities. It has 'sophisticated driver identification technology', which should provide enhanced vehicle security and prevent an unauthorised vehicle start from an unidentified person. i.e. the criminal.

John Lawrence, Managing Director of Trackstar, said: "As a leading player in the provision of stolen vehicle tracking service and hardware solutions we feel we have a responsibility to our customers to work with our OEM partners and Thatcham to provide a telematics based stolen vehicle tracking system that addresses the emergence of electronic intervention as a growing method of vehicle theft."

The system has been launched through the company's OEM partners: BMW, Jaguar and Land Rover. The technology is also available from some independent dealers across the UK.

"Car makers are very focussed on addressing this issue and we know that progress has been made over the past two years. For those motorists still concerned about their car potentially being compromised, we recommend fitting a Thatcham approved Category 5 or Category 6 vehicle tracking system," explained Mike Briggs, Thatcham's Security Research Manager.