Belt and braces
26 May 2021
An earlier blog post on a nasty fraudulent hire scam attracted comments on the wider issue of plant and equipment theft, and suggestions about protective measures that might be taken.
Simon Kearn-George, CEO at Viasat Connect (which changed its name from Enigma Telematics last year) tells me there is growing demand from hirers and end users for a second layer of protection on plant and vehicles.
It’s something of a paradox.
Powerful modern telematics systems provide an immense amount of data for managing fleets more effectively, but sometimes they can expose vulnerabilities depending on how and where they are wired into the host machine’s electronics.
“When we started in 1992 we were basically fitting tracking devices to commercial vehicles to deter thieves and aid equipment recovery, and this led to demand from plant owners and operators,” says Simon.
“Today, however, systems can provide data on usage, emissions and a host of other information, but every additional connection can be a route back to where the device has been fitted.
“Modern machines now come with features like RFID (radio-frequency identification) and a canbus (controller area network - a hub enabling communication between circuits or components) to provide the necessary accurate data.
“And high-end cars and vehicles can incorporate sophisticated technology like keyless entry, apps to unlock doors and starting up without needing an ignition key and the like. However, thieves can use equipment to monitor the data being transmitted and remotely re-code a key - even when it is inside a house - and drive off.”
Simon says there is demand for traditional theft prevention and recovery devices to be fitted - in addition to telematics systems - as a belt-and-braces deterrent. Many are tiny, battery powered units that are easy to install and conceal.
“Criminals know the typical locations of many devices, such as behind dashboards, but these additional units can be placed separately in covert areas that are hard to reach, such as in bumpers or, even, in items like headlamps.
“We once heard of a fraudulent hire where thieves had taken several machines and took their time to carefully locate and disconnect the telematics systems. When the hirer suspected the machines had been stolen, they traced the trackers which were working fine – but they had all been removed and left connected to a single battery. The machines themselves were long gone.”
So perhaps in the same way that householders fit additional locks on windows and doors to provide extra protection, the same might apply to machinery, too.
● To read the earlier hire scam story click here.
