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CITS Guide for Theft Prevention
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Type B — Fleet Management Systems telematics — is primarily designed for logistics and maintenance,
and offers a lower level of recovery performance because installations are not usually covert.
Type C — a DIY tracker, typically using a user-supplied SIM — is the lowest-cost option but is generally
unproven for professional recovery purposes and offers little or no dedicated law enforcement support.
A comparison table is provided at Annex E. CITS notes that criminals are increasingly capable of scanning
for and disabling trackers with live SIM activity before removing plant, and may deploy GPS or GSM
jammers; a layered approach combining marking, immobilisation, and tracking therefore remains more
resilient than tracking alone.
5.10. Fuel, Cable, and Material Theft
Fuel, cable, and material theft — particularly of red diesel, copper wiring, and scrap metal — remains a
persistent and, in the case of fuel, a worsening problem given fuel prices. Fuel theft alarms that monitor
tank levels, forensic DNA marking of fuels and oils, secure bunded storage, and routine vehicle checks on
exit from site are all recommended controls, alongside the wider perimeter and surveillance measures
described above.
5.11. GPS Tags
Integrating smart tracking tags — such as Apple AirTags, SmartTag2, Tile, etc — provides a cost-effective
layer of defence against loss and unauthorised movement.
Discreet Design: Measuring about the size of a coin, tracking tags can be slipped inside battery
compartments, tool casing panels, or mounted securely behind structural frames. Because they look
nothing like traditional, bulky anti-theft hardware, potential thieves are far less likely to notice or remove
them.
Crowdsourced Remote Monitoring: Unlike cellular GPS trackers that require expensive monthly
subscriptions, tags leverage vast device networks. If equipment leaves the yard, any nearby smartphone
running the network anonymously and securely bounces the tag's location back to your device.
Real-Time Visibility: Open the Find My app on your phone, tablet, or desktop to check the coordinate
history and current location of your tools and machinery instantly, allowing you to coordinate directly with
local authorities if theft occurs.