Danger lurks in cheap mobile-based car track gadgets

Unsuspecting motorists are now falling prey to a new car theft syndicate that involves briefcase providers of car-tracking devices and criminals.

The rogue business people usually target buyers of second-hand vehicles, selling to them tracking devices that are operated using mobile telephones.

Many operate from the vicinity of second-hand car yards which have sprouted on city roadsides.

They use cheap prices to lure unsuspecting car buyers by offering to install a tracking device at almost a third of price quoted by established dealers.

With the rising cost of living and the value of the shillings eroded by erratic exchange rates, the prices of motor vehicles has risen sharply and buyers look for ways to save by going for cheap accessories, including tracking services.

Recently, one family lost a Toyota NZE to carjackers who tracked the car using a mobile phone-based vehicle tracking device that had been fitted by a briefcase provider that they had met at car sales yard on Ngong Road.

The man, his wife and daughter had travelled to Juja to their plot of land which was about eight kilometres off the Thika Super Highway.

The woman, whose first name is Grace, said their vehicle came to a halt while they were driving back to Kikuyu, where they live.
The husband thought it was a mechanical problem and stepped out to check but before he could open the bonnet, three men with guns attacked him.

“Someone with the codes stopped the car,” said Grace. “They drove it to a secluded place where they stopped. The thieves opened the bonnet and removed a tracking device. It is like they had all the information on the gadget.”

The couple had opted for the briefcase provider services which they thought was a better deal. Established dealers sell a vehicle tracking device between Sh25,000 and Sh30,000. However, the couple had been charged Sh12,000.

They paid only Sh6,000 as deposit after an agreement that they would pay the balance after testing the device.

Motor vehicle tracking and fleet management service providers who use telecommunications (terrestrial or satellite based) systems are licensed by CCK and are provided with Application Service Providers ( ASP) licences.

The industry regulator, the Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) says it has only licensed eight firms to engage in car -tracking businesses.

CCK said that it may be possible that some service providers have been operating either illegally or are not using telecommunications systems, in which case they do not need licences from CCK.

“Those that are not licensed would be committing a criminal act,” said the CCK acting director- general, Francis Wangusi. “The public is advised to seek such services from reputable firms that are duly registered by the relevant organs of government, have permanent offices and display relevant certificates and licences .”

He added that, in case of doubt one is advised to seek confirmation from CCK and other government agencies including the police.
Section 24 of the Kenya Communications Act, 1998 as amended by the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act, 2009, indicates that persons operating car track businesses without a licence are liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Sh1 million or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.

Licensed firms have been asked to form associations that among other things can identify those that are ruining the reputations of players in that industry. Such associations also provide a platform for self regulation through a code of conduct and ensuring adherence to good practices.
While CCK is mandated to crack down on the unlicensed operators and any other violation of licence conditions, the police come in when a criminal offence has been committed.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the biggest challenge the police face is lack of cooperation from the public.

“It is not an easy thing to apprehend briefcase operators,” he said. “Some victims have resorted to airing their grievances on the social media networks even before reporting them; however, we have engaged the flying squad to track down these criminals.”
This is not the first time the public is getting short-changed by car tracking firms they believed would help them recover their vehicles if stolen.

In 2009, a motor vehicle tracking company duped its clients that it had installed car tracking devices only for the clients to realise later that they were being charged for a gadget that was never installed in the first place.

“It seems the trend has changed from what we had in 2009, then, this firm conned its clients that it was installing tracking devices which it was not doing and to make its customers believe so, it could organize for those who were not remitting their monthly fee charges to have their vehicles stolen,” said Mr Kiraithe.