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Foto: Archivo/EL UNIVERSAL

ast Friday night, Maricarmen Cortés, a well-known financial broadcaster with Radio Formula and TeleFórmula in Mexico City, demanded Mexican Federal District authorities increase security after her car was stolen while being driven by her chauffeur, citing increasing thefts in the area. Ms. Cortés commented later on air (in her Financial Formula program), “Thank God neither I nor my daughter was in the car when it was stolen”.

Fortunately, her car was quickly recovered owing to the fact that it was insured through GNP (Grupo Nacional Provincial), a major insurer in Mexico with more than 1.3 million policy holders. GNP, under their Angel Naranja program (Orange Angel), can equip policy holders’ vehicles with location-based services from Webtech Wireless that allow the vehicle to be located in an instant by satellite if stolen. The service also enables the insurer to immobilize the vehicle remotely, so that law enforcement can retrieve it, and hopefully, those who stole it.

Webtech Wireless’ Quadrant helps reduce theft, and aids in the recovery of stolen vehicles. In Mexico City, where automobile theft rates exceed 30%, GNP previously faced huge payouts due to rising vehicle theft, and urgently needed a solution.

“Over the last 10 years, vehicle theft has increased 67%. In 2000, 47,213 vehicles were stolen and by the end of 2010 this number reached 78,876 vehicles. Of those [stolen], only 29,077 vehicles were recovered—37%.”
– eleconomista.com.mx

Webtech Wireless worked with GNP and Prolog (Webtech Wireless’ Mexican distributor and local call center service provider), to introduce the Angel Naranja theft reduction program into the Mexican insurance market. Working with Webtech Wireless’ Professional Solutions Group, GNP started with 5,000 Locators installed in policy holders’ personal cars and fleet vehicles. After a successful launch, the solution grew to over 14,000 vehicles equipped with the insurance company’s branded solution, powered by Webtech Wireless.