Unfortunately, what makes these cars so popular has also led to a drastic increase in theft rates across both models. According to research from the Highway Loss Data Institute, the Dodge Charger Hemi and Challenger SRT Hellcat were the #1 and #2 vehicles most likely to be stolen in 2019.
Following that report, both models have certainly remained a target. Police reported that last year more than 1,000 Dodge Chargers were stolen in Southeast Michigan alone. And we’re still seeing instances of Charger and Challenger theft today.
According to a local report, three stolen Challenger Hellcats were recovered in July, one following a high-speed police chase. Police say all three vehicles were taken from the same auto dealership in Georgia and are worth a combined $200,000.
The Quick Fix
Dodge has taken notice of this trend and the auto maker is working to try and stop thieves in their tracks. Earlier this year, Dodge announced a new software upgrade that Charger and Challenger owners can receive which equips cars with a four-digit security code.
If that code is not inputted, the vehicle will only travel at engine idle speeds, meant to prevent thieves from making a quick getaway.
However, owners of the models in question need to visit a Dodge dealer to have their software upgraded, including those cars sitting on pre-owned lots across the country.
And while this new safety and theft prevention feature aims to slow thieves down, there are other ways these cars can be taken, like being loaded up onto a trailer and driven off with.
Enhancing Security Long-term
For many auto dealers, this type of theft simply isn’t an option. Chargers and Challengers are worth tens of thousands of dollars each, and a single theft could deal a major blow to a business’s bottom line, or worse, lead to costly insurance claims.
That’s why auto dealers should be taking an enhanced approach to security when it comes to protecting these highly sought-after vehicle models.
While the quick-fix security options being deployed via security updates are a great start, security of Dodge Charger, Challenger, and other valuable vehicles, can be taken to another level with remote video monitoring.
Discovering that a vehicle has been stolen off your lot after the fact makes it that much harder to recover. With remote video monitoring (RVM), surveillance cameras keep watch over your business around the clock, detecting and deterring crime as it happens – and in many cases – before.
In the case of Pro-Vigil, our cameras are backed by the power of artificial intelligence (AI) which can determine when suspicious activity may be taking place on your property.
For example, if a trespasser walks on to your lot and starts heading towards cars, the smart security system can determine that the person is a potential security threat, allowing a human on our monitoring team to take a closer look – in real time.
Rather than let potential thieves mess with cars (and potentially damage them in the process), RVM powered by AI can also deploy deterrence features like pre-recorded audio messages and flashing lights and strobes to warn the trespasser they are not welcome and it’s time to leave.
And finally, if necessary, the security threat may be escalated to a level where the remote monitoring team can notify the proper authorities to respond without the business owner ever having to intervene. It’s safe to say RVM can be a powerful tool in preventing thieves from trying to mess with Dodge Chargers or Challengers.
If you’d like to learn more about how Pro-Vigil’s smart surveillance solutions can help prevent theft on your auto lot or dealership, please contact us today.
