TACKLING VEHICLE CRIME - A FIVE YEAR STRATEGY BY THE HOME OFFICE.
It is estimated that vehicle crime accounts for some 25% of all recorded crime. In September 2001 the Government set up the 'Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team' to help meet the Governments target to reduce both theft from and theft of vehicles by 30%, this equates to a reduction of 317,000 offenses over the five years.
The Action Team aim to improve vehicle security fitted as standard on new cars, encourage manufacturers to offer extra security, to provide better public information about security to help drivers make informed decisions about their own vehicles security and better Policing at crime hotspots. The Action Team comprises of representatives from all sectors of the motor vehicle industry, including the Police, Government, Insurers and consumers.
WHAT IS CAR-JACKING
Car-jacking is a relatively new phenomenon here in the UK, but early cases were recorded in South Africa as early as the mid. 1970's. Today we are becoming more aware of 'Car-jackings' due to several high profile cases in the UK media.
Due to improvements which have been made to vehicle security in recent years, opportunist car thieves are now looking to 'Car-jacking' as the chosen tactic to steal vehicles, they no longer need to be sophisticated thieves, as over 50% of new vehicles are taken using the owners keys.
Car-jackers obtain the owners keys, either by breaking into your home taking the keys, disarming the alarm and driving away, or by using violence to take charge of your vehicle at favoured hotspots including traffic lights, ATM's and petrol stations etc.
VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEMS
ALARMS AND IMMOBILISERS
The single biggest reason for the reduction in vehicle theft over recent years is the fitting of alarms and immobilisers as standard on new vehicles and the increase in general vehicle security. Whether or not these security systems carry Thatcham accreditation, they will act as a deterrent to thieves, but will not protect you or your vehicle against 'Car-jacking'.
VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEMS
Tracking devices can use both radio (GSM) and satellite (GPS) positioning technologies to locate vehicles after being stolen. Tracking systems are installed covertly to a vehicle and when that vehicles stolen is activated remotely to send out a signal, which can be used to identify the vehicles location.
THE CAR JACKING SOLUTION : 'SPAL ANTI CAR-JACK'
Developed by Spal the 'Anti-carjack' is an electronic security device featuring a 'Personal Identification Card' so that the vehicle may only be used by its rightful owner. In the event of the vehicle being used by several people, the central control unit will recognise upto four different 'Personal ID Cards'. Anti-carjacks function is to prevent the vehicle being stolen in all conditions of use, when moving, parked or when left unguarded.
The Anti-carjack system is based upon a dialogue between the control unit (to be fitted to the vehicle) and the personal identification card which the driver must always carry about their person. The device only allows the vehicle to be driven with both control unit and personal ID card are in the same vacinity, if there is no dialogue between the two, Anti-carjack will activate the alarm/immobiliser or flash the indicators and immobilise the vehicle.
The operating procedure is such that once a vehicle is stolen and moves out of range(30 metres) from the ID card, Anti-carjack allows two and half minutes to elapse before triggering its alarm outputs.
Spal have launched a product which will help combat this problem, already tried and tested in Europe the 'Spal anti car jack' is available here in the UK
