A TRACKING AND THEFT-RECOVERY SYSTEM FOR MOBILE ASSETS

A system for tracking vehicles including: a plurality of tracking devices (10) each attached to an object to be tracked (10); a mobile communications device (26); and a server (44); wherein each tracking device (10) comprises: a short range communications module (14); a long range communications module (16); a memory (20) storing therein a unique identifier of the tracking device; and an accelerometer (18); wherein, when the long range communications module (16) receives a message from the server (44) to enter into a distress mode, the tracking device is configured to enter into the distress mode and to periodically transmit short range distress signals via the short range communications module (14); and wherein the mobile communications device (26) comprises: a memory (28) for storing therein an identification of the mobile communications device; a long range communications module (30) for communication over a cellular communication network (32); a short range communications module (34) for receiving short range signals transmitted from tracking devices (10), the received signal including at least the unique identifier of the tracking device (10); a location determination module (36) to determine the location of the mobile communication device; and a processor (42) configured to: obtain a location from the location module (36) on receipt of a short range distress signal from the tracking device (10); and transmit a signal to the server (44) via the long range communications module (30), the signal including at least the unique identifier of the tracking device (10), a time of receipt of the short range distress signal from the tracking device (10), and the determined location of the tracking device (10) when the short range distress signal was received.