Radius Telematics acquired two companies last year that had a proportion of their business in vehicle and plant security and both have reportedly seen spikes in thefts. (Operations Engineer has asked a press representative for Radius for data highlighting the spike).
“From security tracker alerts we have seen a doubling in plant and van theft since the lockdown began,” says Greville Coe, MD of Radius Telematics. “It’s incredible that when we are all self-isolating and worrying about a deadly virus, crime is being committed while people and organisations are so vulnerable.”
Altogether, Radius companies track over 250,000 vehicles across the globe, with security devices fitted to over 27,000 assets ranging from generators to vans, mini-diggers and earth moving trucks.
Radius gave one recent theft example involving a van stolen from a hospice for the terminally ill in Coventry on 29 March. The incident saw the property ransacked and the theft of a Ford Transit van. However, the vehicle was fitted with a ‘Sure-Track’ tracker previously donated by Radius Telematics and the vehicle was recovered after three days.
Coe added: “It’s shocking that thieves would target a charity caring for the terminally ill in what is an exceptionally difficult time. Radius Telematics tracking services remain fully operational irrespective of the travel and business restrictions imposed due to the Coronavirus crisis. We hope we can help to ensure that essential services can be delivered with minimal disruption.”
Radius Telematics is a newly branded group formed within Radius Payment Solutions. The new telematics division incorporates a number of telematics-related businesses including its own Kinesis branded vehicle tracking and previous acquisitions including Plant-i, UK Telematics and Sure-Track.