Is Someone Tracking Your Car?

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GPS trackers for cars and all types of vehicles are small (usually covert) devices that make use of the combined technology of the global positioning system (GPS) and mobile networks to locate and track the movements of a vehicle in real time. Not all GPS vehicle trackers are meant to be hidden, but a lot of them are small and lightweight enough so that they can easily be hidden and concealed either within the vehicle cabin or in the bodywork, and in some cases planted within the fuse box or electric circuit of the car.

 

 

 

In fact, many of these devices tend to be smaller than a match box. Their small size and handling gives them the ability of being used as a spy device to track people’s movements and activity.

 

As with other electronic spying devices and such as hidden cameras and tiny microphones, a GPS tracker can be used for both legitimate and illegal purposes.

 

It is common knowledge that Police and other law enforcement agencies used covert GPS trackers (as long as they have the correct authority in place) as do private investigators who see the tracker as an invaluable tool in their surveillance capabilities.

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Car Tracker Detection Service

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It’s not just the Police and private investigators who take advantage of the benefits of GPS tracking devices as even members of the public such as suspicious partners, or a  concerned parent use trackers purchased online for as little as £50.

 

Business owners and managers use tracking devices for a number of reasons, such as monitoring an employee who is suspected of stealing or using the company vehicle for their own purposes:

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• Fleet Management – Many owners and managers of companies who operate a fleet of vehicles make use of GPS trackers in order to track the location of their vehicular assets in real time and to monitor the driving behaviour of their employees whilst on company duties.

• Supervising Teenage Drivers – Parents of young people who are learning how to drive can monitor their child’s driving behaviour. With a GPS tracker, not only can they track where their teen is at a given time, but they can also be alerted anytime their child is engaging in any type of reckless driving such as speeding, hard-accelerating, or hard-braking.

• Theft Recovery – Car trackers are also a great tool in the recovery of a stolen vehicle. Thieves may not be aware of the presence of a hidden GPS tracker and allow the owner to alert the Police to its whereabouts. In cases of theft, time is critical as you don’t want your vehicle to end up being chopped up and sold for parts. Before the thieves can get far, you can find their location and recover the car with the help of a GPS tracking device.

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The Main Types of GPS Car Trackers

GPS vehicle trackers are typically sorted into two categories: active and passive. Active trackers are those devices that use GPS to ascertain the specific location of a device and then use cellular connections to transmit that location. They do all this in real time. Passive trackers, on the other hand, typically just record and store location data and can’t be able to transmit the said location data in real time.

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When someone has set up an active GPS tracker on your car, it means that they will be able to track your movements in real time with the help of a computer, a smart phone, or tablet and an Internet connection. Depending on the brand and model of the device they have installed, they may also be able to view your route history in the past as well as specific details of your driving behaviour.

On the other hand, if someone has hidden a passive GPS tracker on your vehicle, they won’t be able to get any real-time information about your route and location. The only way they’d be able to get the information stored in the passive tracker is if they recovered it and viewed the data recorded on it. 

 

A lot of trackers are designed to operate with power sourced from a car’s electrical system. But there are others that operate from a battery, making them the ideal spying device, as they are extremely difficult to trace and locate. While there are some devices that are open to detection, provided you have the right counter surveillance equipment, a lot of them will still need the help of a professional when it comes to their detection.

 

How to Find a Hidden GPS Tracker on Your Vehicle

If you’re having doubts that someone may have planted or installed a tracking device on your car, you’ll need to get hold of some tools to confirm your suspicions. Some tools you can use are a mechanic’s mirror, a torch, and a mat that you can use to slide under the vehicle.

 

You should also take note of the following instructions:

 

Examine the Exterior

1. Take your car’s owner’s manual and a torch. Some of the cheapest trackers around are pretty obvious but take note that not all devices are built the same way. With some devices, the only hint you’d find is an out-of-place wire. It’s good to have your vehicle manual on hand so you won’t risk damaging an important part of the car.

1. One of the places you’d need to check is the chassis of your vehicle. Get your mat, lie down with your back on it, slide under your car, and shine your torch into its underside. Look for any suspiciously shaped objects that don’t look like they’re part of the car, such as taped-on objects, boxes, and antennas.

1. A tracker can also be placed in the front and rear bumpers of a vehicle. Make sure you examine these sections closely as anyone could discreetly slip in a tracker in the bumpers. These areas are notoriously difficult to examine and really should only be searched by a professional with the appropriate anti-surveillance equipment.

2. Check the fuse boxes and areas close to the battery for after-market witing and connections. A secret GPS tracker can appear to look like an additional relay connected to the fuse box, with constant power and a location to give off a strong signal, we find plenty of these hidden trackers.

 

Examine the Interior

1. Look inside the car’s upholstery, especially the removable parts such as the headrests and seat cushions. Likewise, do the same with the carpet and the seats. Use your torch to illuminate the parts underneath the seats. When it comes to the two front seats, check them for anything that strikes you as out of the ordinary.

1. Examine the area underneath the dashboard. With most car models, you can easily disassemble the glove compartment and panel below the steering wheel. If you come across a loose wire, that’s an indication that it connects to an antenna that’s been taped on or glued.

1. Check the back too as most trackers are unable to receive signals through metal. Don’t forget to examine the areas right under the rear window before checking the metal trunks and the spare tire.

2. Check the roof lining. Most cars are fitted with electric looms in this area and can be used to power a covert GPS tracker. In the 12 years we have been detecting hidden trackers we have found many micro trackers wired into the car’s internal lighting circuit that also have the capability of listening to conversations within the car.

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Helpful Tips

If you’ve checked both the exteriors and interiors of your vehicle but still haven’t found any trace of a tracker, there’s a good chance there might not be one installed on it. However, if you’re still suspicious, here are some more tips you can try:

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1. Get in touch with us, the professionals – Bug Sweeper Services. You can hire us who know how to find such hidden trackers. We attend your location or a place convenient to you, and our costs for bug sweeping a car are the best on the internet.

2. Alternatively, you can bug sweep your vehicle for GPS tracker signals using a handheld bug detector. These detectors are pricey, so you must be willing to pay the price. And it helps if you have the knowledge and experience on how GPS trackers work and what you are looking for when using a bug tracker device. Just because the device starts beeping and flashing, doesn’t mean you need to rip out the dashboard or roof because you believe there is a tracker there. One word of advice, these handheld devices are unable to differentiate radio signals and the signal omitted by a GPS tracker.

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Here at Bug Sweeper Services we offer a comprehensive bug sweep of your vehicle. Our car bug sweeps take on average 2 hours to complete. We are able to detect all types of covert and overt GPS trackers and can remove them if required. We offer a report and statement service detailing our bug sweep equipment, method and findings.

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We operate throughout the UK and attend your location or a place convenient to you.

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If you require a professional bug sweep of your car or vehicle, contact us today for free advice, quote and availability.

Find Car Tracker Service

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Call Bug Sweeper Services on 07816 477496