A few weeks ago, Christian M. had his car stolen and found it in less than an hour thanks to his Invoxia GPS tracker. After some paperwork with the insurance and a nice surprise on the bill, he was able to recover it in perfect condition.
And while this news certainly brings joy, we must not underestimate the psychological shock of the theft, as Christian explains so well…
Let’s get to know each other a bit, can you tell me more about yourself in a few words? #
I am 69 years old, a retired executive. Passionate about new technologies. I live in Hauts-de-France.
What led you to equip yourself with a GPS tracker? #
It seems to me that knowing the location of the stolen vehicle is a must. So I became interested in a tracker.
Why did you choose an Invoxia GPS tracker? #
I bought the basic Invoxia but quickly saw that the geolocation accuracy was not very precise in my geographical area. I then contacted Invoxia, who advised me the Pro model, which I appreciate for locating within a few meters.
Were you afraid of hiding your GPS tracker in a too visible place? Did you do several tests before finding your final location? #
Yes, to have the best tracking I avoided too obvious places and found a simple location inside.
Your car was stolen recently, can you tell us about this misadventure? #
I was leaving for the physiotherapist at 11 AM, no vehicle: it had been stolen at 3 AM!
At 11:15 AM I had located the vehicle 31 miles from my home. I called the local police who went to check and found the vehicle. The theft was filmed because I have cameras in front of the house.
How did the GPS tracker help you find your car? #
I alerted the local police of Lesquin, who confirmed the vehicle’s location to me at 11:30 AM and preserved it until the national police arrived. I sent a letter to the mayor to commend his officers. The two police officers (a lady and a gentleman) were very efficient and communicative, reassuring…
It seems that the rest of the adventure is complicated, to recover your car with the intervention of your insurance and the expert, can you tell us? Why is it taking so long? #
The car was transferred to the garage, and the insurance sent me a 6-page questionnaire! I sent about 30 documents to the insurance. Yet the car was found thanks to Invoxia and they were not supposed to reimburse it.
Since I have been with Macif for over 20 years and had the Invoxia tracker, the deductible was reduced from $440 to $110. Thank you Invoxia!
Do you think tracking your belongings to protect them is in vogue and that its use is becoming widespread? #
Yes, I added a steering wheel lock with an alarm, a modification of the OBD port, plus a perimeter and volumetric alarm. Next: an explosive device!
If you had to summarize this misadventure in a few words, what would you say? #
My car was found very quickly thanks to the Invoxia tracker and, without resolving a psychological shock, it allowed for a quick resolution of the problem.
I think we need to talk about the psychological shock of the theft that I still feel a month later. The additional alarms and protections help me get through this phase, slowly… I fear every day of a new theft, and I put in all the security measures (alarms, steering wheel locks), aware that I might be overdoing it. But…
What to do in case of car theft? #
Ultimately, all’s well that ends well for Christian! And his testimony reminds us that in case of theft, it is important to follow a few recommendations:
- Arrive prepared to file a complaint: Bring all the proof of ownership you have, photos, and anything that could help identify your property.
- Activate the Theft File: It allows the police to have maximum information about your vehicle and to track its location even when you are no longer around to share your application.
- Don’t hesitate to ask for help: Whether from your loved ones or a psychologist, talking about it helps you overcome the emotional shock of the theft.