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Tracking devices explained

According to the Crime Information Analysis Centre (CIAC) the number of car hijackings and theft of cars has increased from around 12 700 in 1996 to around 13 700 in 2004. Other data suggest this figure is closer to 17 000.

Tracking devices have become very popular over the years, one reason being the high success rate of cars being found once they have been stolen. Companies such as Tracker, Netstar and Matrix offer this sort of service.

Calling the Men in Blue

All of these companies work on the same principle. You get the device fitted to your car, if your car is stolen you phone them and they send out their recovery teams to obtain the stolen vehicle and hopefully arrest the offenders. In the case of Netstar, on average, they recover a stolen vehicle under an hour.

Some of the tracking companies have their own fleet of ground vehicles and airplanes that they use to recover a vehicle once it is stolen. Tracker, for instance, have their own recovery team as well as being the only company that has a formal relationship with the South African Police Service (SAPS). The SAPS support vehicles are equipped with Police Tracking Computers (PTC) in the highway patrol cars, vehicle theft units and the flying squad.

Netstar makes use of a private company to do their ground recoveries and also has aircraft that are at their disposal 24/7.

Matrix has its own recovery teams and will only make use of SAPS when necessary.

Packages

There are different options to pick from. Netstar's Sleuth entry-level product comprises the basic device and two free remote tests a year. The unit price and installation costs R795 and the monthly payment is R110 for a passenger car and R116 for a commercial vehicle.

Matrix offers its MX1 entry level system for R105 a month if you pay R1 700 for the fitment. Take it on a 36-month contract and there is no installation fee but only a R136 monthly fee, which is cheaper over a three-year period.

Tracker systems can be checked at around 100 BP stations nationally or one of the 160 authorised fitment centres.

For between R2 600 (Tracker) and R2 900 (Netstar) you can have the tracking company keeping an eye on your car. The monthly cost for these ranges between R168 for Netstar and R189 for Tracker.

In the case of Tracker the system will alert them if there is any unwarranted movement. With Netstar when the system is activated it will inform Netstar if any of the doors are opened, if the car is towed away or if the ignition is forced.

Discretion

Handy in emergency situations is the panic button. Once pressed, it will be handled as a hijacking situation and an emergency response unit will be sent to your vehicle. With Tracker there is no panic button or external identification of the vehicle as according to them it could decrease the safety of the occupants. The need for a sticker on the exterior indicating tracking installation is still an ongoing debate though.

Tracking devices are installed in cars without telling even the customer the location of the device. This confidential information is kept away from the wrong eyes.

Netstar makes sure that only internal employees have access to this information, while Tracker does thorough security checks on all their employees. They also do random polygraph and voice stress analysis testing, monitor telephone calls and e-mails, and keep a close eye if there is any relation between the technician installing the device and incidents to that car.

For insurance sake

Having a tracking system in your car also has insurance benefits. Outsurance will not insure your car if it is not fitted with a tracking device and if the value of your car exceeds R200 000. Pick Outsurance and they cover the initial installation costs.

In the case of Mutual and Federal the barrier for a vehicle that needs a tracking device is R300 000. They work together with Tracker and will also pay for the installation with you paying a R120 monthly charge that is slightly less than the normal R126.

If you pick a different tracking company they will give you a discount between R70 and R80 on your insurance premium. It also depends a lot on the type of vehicle you own as certain cars are more prone to theft than others.

Insurance company Dial Direct evaluates your car and, as insurance companies do, takes into account the statistics and chances of your car being stolen or broke into. If they think you need a tracking device, they work with Tracker and will pay both the installation fee and the monthly costs.

Keep in mind that in the end it is best to get several quotes from different insurance companies. Although the one says they pay all, your final premium might be much higher.

Fleet owners welcome

For fleet owners there is the option to track their vehicles themselves. The Tracker Locate system allows an owner to use the internet or his cell phone to track a specific vehicle. With Netstar information such as speed, harsh breaking or acceleration figures can be acquired. More features include route control, vehicle productivity and if the vehicle enters no-go areas.

Netstar's system is called Fleet Management and starts at R4 320 for installation and fitment with a monthly fee of R250. Tracker's Locate System, which offer similar features, starts at R3990 with a monthly premium of R290.

When considering having a system installed in your car it is important to find out what network they use beforehand. This ranges from radio frequency networks to cell phone networks or their own networks. Netstar and Matrix make use of GSM cell phone network whereas Tracker has their own network. All systems have their own pros and cons.

If you sell your vehicle the new owner can take over your contract, or you can have it removed and re-installed in your new vehicle.

Tracker has devices installed in over 400 000 vehicles and Matrix around 130 000. Netstar has the most successful recovery rate of around 85% whereas Tracker has recovered the most vehicles.

All these systems can be fitted to both passenger cars and commercial vehicles and the base unit can even be fitted to motorcycles. There is also the option of renting, rather then buying, the tracking device.

Quick costs:

  • Fitment and installation from R795 - Netstar
  • Monthly fees from R105 - Matrix Contact numbers:

  • Matrix: 0800 33 99 88
  • Netstar: 011 207 5006
  • Tracker: 0860 60 50 40
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