Are car trackers being used to steal vehicles in South Africa?
Allegations suggest criminals may be working with tracking company insiders to steal vehicles in South Africa. Here’s what you need to know.
If you thought installing a tracking device made your car untouchable, you might want to read this.
According to MyBroadband, ChangeCars founder Michael Pashut has raised serious concerns about possible insider involvement in vehicle theft, and it’s the kind of plot twist no driver signed up for.
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As reported by MyBroadband, Pashut revealed details from a January 2025 interview with an anonymous industry insider, known only as “Mr X”.
According to him, some criminals may be working with individuals inside vehicle tracking companies to identify and steal high-risk cars.
Yes, the very systems meant to protect your car could allegedly be used against you.
How thefts allegedly happen
Pashut described a worrying pattern:
- A driver parks a high-risk vehicle like a Toyota Hilux or Fortuner
- Within minutes, another car pulls up
- The suspects calmly walk up, unlock the vehicle and drive off
- No smashed windows. No drama. Just vibes and gone.
According to Pashut, this suggests the thieves may already have access to a key fob or duplicate key data, which allows them to unlock and start the vehicle almost instantly.
The "spare key" situation
Pashut said the anonymous insider claimed that criminal syndicates allegedly target employees within the tracking industry.
The claim is that some insiders are approached to copy spare key codes during tracker installations.
That spare key (carrying the same coding as the original) could then be handed over to criminals and used later to steal the vehicle.
Even worse, the insider alleged this isn’t limited to one company, but could be a broader industry issue.
Do car trackers still help?
Here’s where it gets complicated.
When asked whether tracking devices increase theft risk, the insider reportedly gave a very honest (and slightly unsettling) answer.
Yes, trackers do increase the risk of theft if abused by the wrong people. However, they still play a crucial role in recovering stolen vehicles.
In other words: the tech itself isn’t the villain, but how it’s handled might be.
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Before you side-eye your car tracker like it’s plotting against you, remember that these are allegations, not proven industry-wide facts.
However, it does highlight something important:
- Always use trusted, reputable providers
- Be cautious about who handles your vehicle’s keys and installations
- Stay informed about how your car’s security systems actually work
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