SECURITY: Piaggio joins forces with TRACKER to help keep your pride and joy safe.  

Piaggio has just announced it’s going to be offering access to vehicle tracking units from the UK’s leading stolen vehicle recovery expert, TRACKER.

Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi dealers across the UK are helping buyers of Piaggio Group machines, (including the Vespa GTS 300, Piaggio Beverly 300, Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 and Aprilia’s range of 125cc models) to protect their pride and joy by partnering up with TRACKER.

And it’s already proved how useful it can be – when a Piaggio customers Beverly 300 was stolen from his driveway one evening. It was only when he received an alert from TRACKER that he realised his scooter (worth over £5,000) was missing. Commenting on the theft, the Beverly owner said: “I received a text from TRACKER to alert me to some unusual movement of my Piaggio scooter, which I thought was on my driveway. I opened the curtain only to discover that it was gone. I immediately called the police and TRACKER, and within one hour my bike was located half a mile away from my house. Although some of the modifications and accessories had been stolen from the bike, I was able to take it home with me that night. If I hadn’t had a TRACKER device fitted, there is no doubt that I would never have seen the bike again.”

 Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison at TRACKER, said: “Unfortunately, bike theft escalates in autumn and winter, which means owners need to be extra vigilant. Our partnership with Piaggio and Vespa means new owners benefit from TRACKER’s stolen vehicle recovery systems. A tracking device won’t stop a scooter from being stolen, but it significantly increases the chances of police finding and recovering it.”

Simon Greenacre, Marketing Communications Coordinator for Piaggio in the UK, added: “Hearing about a stolen motorcycle or scooter is always unpleasant news but, in this case, our partnership with TRACKER has demonstrated that it is possible to fight back against thieves and get a positive result. This example of how TRACKER’s leading technology can offer peace of mind and protection for our customers is important because working together is a key strategy in defeating the criminals.”

TRACKER’s Top Tips for Motorcycle Security:

• Motorbike Locks

Always secure chain locks or cable locks to an immovable object, such as a lamp post.  Always try to thread the chain or cable through the bike frame.

• Motorbike Alarms and Immobilisers

A quality Thatcham approved, professionally fitted alarm system will not only deter a thief, but could also reduce insurance premiums. It’s crucial to get it fitted by a factory trained technician as modern bikes are sensitive to poorly fitted alarms.

• Mark Your Motorcycle

Using a simple UV pen, mark parts of the motorcycle with the VIN (vehicle identification number), vehicle registration and postcode. 

• Remove Equipment

As an added guard, remove the spark plug or HT cap.  • Be Seen! Always park the bike where it can be seen, day or night, by passers-by.

• Use Different Parking Spots

Try to vary the places you park – sophisticated thieves will study parking habits and routines before making a theft.

• Use Public Secure Parking 

Most cities will have a secure parking area for motorcycles with fixed security hoops for locking chains to – use them.

• Garage

If you have a garage, use it.  Always put the bike away immediately and make sure the garage is properly secure.  Consider putting in a ground anchor in the garage to lock the bike to.

• Protect What Matters

Invest in a stolen vehicle recovery system and be sure to choose one that is used by all UK police forces.  You could also reduce insurance premiums.

For more information on TRACKER, click HERE.