Automotive Engineers Help Reduce Vehicle Thefts With Telematics By Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Data released from government agencies revealed that from 2003 to 2006, the nation saw a dip in overall vehicular theft - 11 percent, in fact. That still left thousands upon thousands of cars taken in the night (or broad daylight) and resold as legitimate used vehicles, shipped overseas or dismantled for their parts.

According to respected experts on vehicle theft, positive results are being seen from owner-applied theft deterrence and recovery systems. With automotive engineers focusing more on technological advancements, vehicle theft in the United States could continue to be greatly reduced. In the meantime, organizations dedicated to preventing car theft recommend a multi-tiered approach to safeguarding vehicles.

(1) Don't Make It Easy

Do all you can to make sure those "little things" don't add up to an easy take. Remember to remove your keys, lock the doors, close the windows, park in well-lit areas and hide all valuables. Thieves are experts. These kinds of mistakes provide them with encouragement to hop in your ride and, well, ride off with it. Plus, most insurers won't cover the costs of a stolen vehicle if the keys were in or around it.

(2) Use Warning Devices

Any indication your car is protected can act as a deterrent. A thief may be less likely to target your property if you advertise it is protected in some way, either via audio alerts, Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) scratched into the windows, or prominent stickers advertising an anti-theft system.

(3) Immobilizing Devices

Immobilization devices prevent the bypassing of the ignition in order to hotwire the vehicle. Examples include smart keys, fuse cut-offs, kill switches, starter/ignition/fuel pump disablers and wireless ignition authentication.

Some of the best immobilization systems will use an electronic code transmitted from a transponder located in the vehicle's ignition key to allow or disallow the engine management system to start the vehicle. When the correct electronically-coded signal sent by the transponder to a coil located near the ignition is received, the car will start. Such systems can have as many as one trillion fixed codes or a rolling code with encrypted algorithms, making it virtually impossible to crack. As a bonus, some of these systems will also allow the driver to personalize certain features, like seat and mirror position and keyless entry.

(4) Telematics Tracking Devices

Tracking devices are also excellent defenses against car theft. They may, in fact, herald a new era of auto theft protection. Tracking devices use telematics, which can combine a Global Positioning System (GPS) with wireless technology to monitor a vehicle's location. If thieves realize a particular vehicle can be easily located at any given moment, they may be (should be) far less likely to snatch it. And if they do - well, bad news for them.

Telematics modules may offer more than just vehicular tracking, as well, by virtue of their technological capability. Some in-vehicle systems will also integrate a phone, a global position satellite receiver and digital signal processing to enable communication between a vehicle and a response center. This will provide navigation assistance, remote diagnostics, collision detection and call center notification, hands-free call center communication and remote door lock/unlock.

Other anti-theft devices include steering wheel and ignition locks, audio alerts, keyless vehicle systems, remote keyless activation and ultrasonic interior protection with inclination sensing. The last is, perhaps, one of the more interesting innovations. In an attempt to combat annoying and neighbor-riling false alarms often associated with ignored audio warning systems, certain manufacturers have created theft deterrents designed to sense activity within the vehicle. When interior movement is detected or a change in inclination is sensed, the system will trigger an alarm regardless of the park position. Lifting a vehicle in order to deactivate certain systems is a common trick used by thieves. Inclination sensing combats this technique and ultrasonic protection soothes once-friendly neighbors weary of those midnight false alarms.

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