April/May 2002

Vehicle tracking systems tend to work by detecting when the vehicle has been broken into or started in some unorthodox way; but what if the thief steals the key to gain access? The latest version of the TrakbaK II system from Siemens Datatrak introduces an extra level of security to take account of this eventuality.

Under these circumstances the thief is permitted to drive away, but because he or she has not been verified as the authorised user, Trakbak II's tracking capability is activated automatically.

The extra verification mechanism can be something as simple as a hidden switch that authorised drivers know they have to depress, although Siemens is also investigating other options including biometric recognition technologies.

Because thieves are able to drive the vehicle away, the company says the risk of personal harm to the victim is minimised. The customer benefits because the stolen vehicle can be tracked immediately, with a greater likelihood that the property will be recovered.

When the secondary level of security is triggered, an alert is sent to a Siemens Datatrak monitoring station. The station will call the keyholder, usually the fleet manager, to enquire whether a theft may be in progress. The fleet manager or monitoring station will then be able to confirm the situation and inform the police as appropriate.

Robert Kobler, product manager, Siemens Datatrak, said: "While the advent of the immobiliser and alarm has made stealing vehicles more difficult, it has unfortunately contributed to a new and more ugly form of vehicle theft as criminals have responded by stealing the keys, increasingly forcibly. In this war against vehicle theft, Trakbak II ensures that possession of the keys is no longer enough to get away with the crime."