Margot ROCHARD
Vehicle theft remains one of the most expensive risks for fleet managers. According to the latest law enforcement figures, the trend is clearly on the rise. In France, vehicle thefts increased by around 11% in 2025 compared to 2024, representing 142,000 stolen vehicles in 2025.
Beyond material loss, this leads to disruptions in the fleet: fewer vehicles, disrupted activity, additional administrative burden... Theft prevention is a strategic challenge to secure the fleet and guarantee business continuity.
1. Vehicle theft: a very real risk
Vehicle fleets are particularly exposed to the risks associated with theft. Often immobilized on car fleets, on public roads, in company car parks, these vehicles can easily become the target of thieves after being spotted.
Without the appropriate device, theft can go unnoticed for hours, greatly reducing the chances of finding it. One of the first difficulties lies in the multiplicity of potential vehicles in the fleet: it will not be easy to identify the missing vehicle.
2. Technology to anticipate theft
Preventing theft is possible thanks to OPTIMUM geolocation: in real time, it automatically detects a suspicious movement of a vehicle. In the event of theft or tearing off a case, an alert is automatically sent to identify the anomaly. Several other alerts can identify abnormal vehicle behaviors, such as the movement of this vehicle outside the authorized hours of an authorized geographical area. These alerts make it possible to react quickly to the problem and to limit the financial impacts.
As soon as a vehicle is identified as stolen, the OPTIMUM vehicle immobilizer module comes into play. From the Optimum platform, the manager can immobilize the vehicle remotely, in a few clicks. The device adapts to the situation of the vehicle in real time: if it is in traffic, the immobilizer is automatically activated as soon as it stops; if it is already stopped, the vehicle is stopped in the following minutes.
This feature makes it possible to regain control in the event of proven theft and to significantly reduce the operational and financial consequences. It is part of a global approach to securing the fleet, offering the manager better visibility, increased responsiveness and real peace of mind on a daily basis.
3. Supervise uses and raise awareness among drivers
Today, the technology offered by OPTIMUM makes it possible to play a key role in the prevention of vehicle theft. These tools are all the more effective when they are accompanied by clear rules and settings defined beforehand by the management teams. Technology needs human control and configuration at the outset. Defining traffic time slots, geographic areas, and parking procedures makes it possible to detect anomalies more quickly.
Raising awareness among drivers is also an essential tool: it is important to inform them of the best practices established beforehand (parking locations and preferences, vehicle use rules, etc.). By involving them in this process, OPTIMUM technology becomes a daily support tool.
4. Securing the fleet today to anticipate tomorrow's risks
The prevention of vehicle theft in a car fleet is now based on a global approach, combining technology, human control and best practices in the field. Thanks to real-time geolocation, intelligent alerts and remote immobilization, OPTIMUM allows fleet managers to anticipate risks, quickly detect abnormal situations and act effectively in the event of theft. By managing uses and involving drivers, companies sustainably strengthen the safety of their vehicles while guaranteeing the continuity of their business.
While vehicle theft is a major issue, other forms of hijacking also impact fleets, starting with fuel theft. Often more discreet but just as expensive, it also requires appropriate tools for monitoring and analysing uses. This is a key topic to continue thinking about securing and controlling the costs of the car fleet.
