AUTOLOCKSMITHING
SPONSORED BY ADVANCED KEYS
AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR AT ‘FRONT
LINE’ OF ECONOMY
Following significant investment from global automotive manufacturers in the UK
in the past two years, Business Secretary Vince Cable has set up the Automotive
Investment Organisation (AIO) led by Joe Greenwell, the former Chairman of Ford.
Funded with up to £3 million over the next two years, the AIO is
spearheading the campaign to attract inward investment to the
UK.
The Automotive Investment Organisation is led by UK Trade
& Investment (UKTI), and takes strategic direction from the
Automotive Council, to develop a strategy to repatriate the supply
chain and build on the opportunities identified in the UK.
‘The AIO is spearheading the campaign
to attract inward investment to the UK’
Business Secretary and co-Chair of the Automotive Council Vince
Cable said: “On average only a third of the parts that go into cars
manufactured here are sourced from the UK. We know that global
manufacturers in the UK want to buy more from the UK.
“As the former chair of a global automotive company, Joe
Greenwell brings all the experience that the Automotive Investment
Organisation needs. He will help to build on the success of the
unprecedented investment we have seen in the UK automotive
sector and encourage a more extensive supply chain.”
The CBI welcomed the government’s decision to partner with
business to develop an automotive strategy in 2013.
Commenting, Katja Hall, CBI Chief Policy Director, said:
“This strategy sets out a bold vision for long-term growth right
across the automotive sector, which is at the front line of the drive to
rebalance our economy.
“The £1bn investment in a new centre for cutting-edge
engine technologies should go a long way towards making the
UK a globally-competitive place for automotive research and
development.
“Strengthening the supply chain is rightly identified as a
major priority. The creation of the new Automotive Investment
Organisation will help, alongside action to improve suppliers’ access
to finance and delivering on the skills roadmap so firms of all sizes
can access a wider pool of talented graduates and apprentices.”
Survey Claims Most Stolen
Vehicles Taken With Keys
Nearly half – 46 percent of the vehicles stolen in
2011/2012 were taken when the “offender used a key”,
the Crime Survey for England and Wales has revealed.
This represented a significant rise of 20
percent over the previous record period
(2010/2011). Why? Because modern
vehicles, say the experts, tend to have
highly sophisticated security systems
that incorporate locks, alarms and
immobilisers, etc. As such, the easiest
means of access is often to steal keys
from (say) property or coat pockets.
Furthermore, 22 percent of stolen
vehicles were removed after the offenders
“forced” - or tried to force - the locks and
14 percent of criminals broke - or at least
tried to break - windows. These figures
were 13 and five percent lower than the
previous record period. Staggeringly, a
further nine percent were removed while
the doors were “not locked”
.
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THE SEP/OCT 2013 ISSUE
SPONSORED BY ADVANCED KEYS
Of the vehicles stolen and returned
to their rightful owners, nearly threequarters - 74 percent were damaged.
Of these, 26 percent were “written-off/
beyond repair” 22 percent had “extensive
,
damage” and 26 percent had “moderate/
,
slight damage”
.
As we know, some vehicles predominantly late-plate prestigious
models - are stolen to order then shipped
abroad. Some of these are taken with
cloned keys so motorists are urged to
remember not to rely completely on the
manufacturer’s security system. Other
vehicles are stolen by opportunists who
look for any suitable machine rather than
a specific model to order. It might then be
used for joy-riding, robbery, etc.
As this type of criminal favours soft
targets so it makes sense to make it
more secure than those that surround
it. So owners are urged - at the very
least – to fit a high quality alarm and
immobiliser – then consider extras such
as a tracker that is monitored by the
police.
Clearly, vehicle security remains a
major challenge and all auto locksmiths
should be promoting their specialist
services to motorists through every
possible means, from localised leaflet
campaigns to social media.
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