Theft Deterrent System

Vehicle theft deterrent system

 A theft-deterrent system is basically a set of sensors in and around the car, and a response system.
 The sensors can detect if the car is bumped, if someone tries to open the door without the key, or
if the car is moved.
 The response system could be a simple alarm system, blasting the horn and flashing the lights,
or, as is more common these days, an engine immobilizer, ensuring that the car will not move until
the owner comes back, identifying themselves by key or key fob.
 The specifics of a theft-deterrent system will vary from vehicle to vehicle, and there are
aftermarket systems, meaning your anti-theft system might not match one found in the same make
and model.
 But they all consist of the same three main components: sensors, control module, and a response
system.
 Car alarm
 A car alarm is an electronic device installed in a vehicle in an attempt to discourage theft
of the vehicle itself, its contents, or both.
 Car alarms work by emitting high-volume sound (often a vehicle mounted siren,
klaxon, pre-recorded verbal warning, the vehicle’s own horn, or a combination of these)
when the conditions necessary for triggering it are met.
 Such alarms may also cause the vehicle’s headlights to flash, may notify the car's owner
of the incident via a paging system, and may interrupt one or more electrical circuits
necessary for the car to start.
 Although inexpensive to acquire and install, the effectiveness of such devices in deterring
vehicle theft when their only effect is to emit sound appears to be negligible. Why?
 Cont..
Car alarms can be divided into two categories:

 OEM (built into the vehicle at the factory)

 Aftermarket (installed at any time after the car has been built, such as by the new car

dealer, an auto accessories store, or the vehicle's owner)

 Alarms often come with a mix of features.

 Remote car alarms typically consist of an additional radio receiver that allows the owner to

wirelessly control the alarm from a key fob.

 Cont..
Features
 Car alarms should not be confused with immobilizers; although the purpose
of both may be to deter car theft, they operate in a dissimilar fashion.
 An immobilizer generally will not offer any audible or visual theft
deterrence, nor require any more input from the driver than from the
driver of a non immobilizer car.
 Arming and disarming of car alarms
OEM alarms

 Almost all OEM alarms are typically armed and disarmed with the vehicle's keyless entry

remote.
 On many vehicles the key cylinders in the driver or front passenger door activate switches, so

that when a key is used in the door the alarm will arm or disarm.
 Some vehicles will arm when the power door lock switch is pressed with the driver's door open,

and the door is subsequently closed.

 Some vehicles will disarm if the ignition is turned on; often when the vehicle is equipped with a

key-based immobilizer and an alarm, the combination of the valid key code and the ignition
disarms the system.
 Cont..
Aftermarket alarms
 Like OEM alarms, aftermarket systems are usually armed and disarmed via remote.

 Usually they do not have provisions for external disarming from the key cylinder, but will typically have an override switch

mounted in a hidden location.

Triggers
 The individual triggers for a car alarm vary widely, depending on the make and model of the vehicle, and the brand and model

of the alarm itself.

 Since aftermarket alarms are designed to be universal (i.e. compatible with all 12-volt negative ground electrical systems as

opposed to one carmaker's vehicles), these commonly have trigger inputs that the installer/vehicle owner chooses not to connect,

which additionally determines what will set the alarm off.

 Cont..
 Generally, OEM alarms monitor the doors and trunk/hatch for unauthorized entry.

 On some vehicles this is done through pin switches, mercury switches, or microswitches integrated into

the latch.

 On others, the door lock mechanisms have switches built into them.

 Some OEM alarms additionally will trigger if the hood is opened, or if the ignition is turned on.

 A few systems have a shock sensor which will trigger upon a significant impact to the vehicle's body,

such as window glass being broken.

 Motion sensors monitoring the vehicle's interior are installed in some higher end models.
cont..
 The simplest aftermarket alarms are one-piece units with a siren and control module.

 The most common type of sensor is a shock sensor and two wires (12-volt constant power and

ground) which are connected to the car's battery.

 This type of alarm is triggered by vibration transferred to the shock sensor, or by voltage changes

on the input (the alarm assumes that a sudden change in voltage is due to a door or trunk being

opened, or the ignition being turned on); however, it is very prone to false triggers on late-model

vehicles with many electronic control modules, which can draw current with the ignition off.
Cont..
Effectiveness

 Although car alarms of some kind have been available since the beginning of the automobile era, the

dramatic increase in their installation in the 1980s and 1990s coupled with the fact that nearly all types of car

alarms are easily triggered accidentally (frequently because of high sensitivity settings) means that people

who hear them often ignore them.

 In 1994, the New York City Police Department claimed that car alarms may actually be making car theft

and break-in crimes more frequent.

 There is one account in 1992 of a thief in New York City rocking a car to deliberately trigger its alarm in

order to help conceal the sound of a breaking window.

Cont..
Effectiveness
 Because of the large number of false alarms with car alarms, many vehicle manufacturers no longer factory-fit
simple noise-making alarms, instead offering silent immobilizers.
 Alternatively, an aftermarket vehicle tracking system can easily trace stolen vehicles.
 Most police tracking systems require the user to pay a recurring fee, whereas factory immobilizers are included in
the purchase price of the vehicle.
 GPS locating systems enable the owner of the vehicle to lock and unlock, track, and disable the starter of the
vehicle online.
 Frequently, false alarms occur because car alarm owners use high sensitivity settings.
 This may be the main reason why loud bass frequency sound (loud music, other cars or motorcycles with loud
exhaust systems, thunderstorms, etc.) can set off car alarms.
 The second possible reason is that some parts of the alarm system may be improperly installed.
1. Vehicle theft deterrent system
 A vehicle safety deterrent system is a set of technologies and features designed to deter theft, unauthorized
use, or damage to a vehicle.
 These can include features such as
 Immobilizers
 Alarms
 GPS tracking systems
 steering wheel locks, and more.
 The goal of a vehicle safety deterrent system is to make a vehicle less attractive to thieves and unauthorized
users, and to make it easier for owners to recover stolen vehicles or to prove who was responsible in the
event of an accident.
 The effectiveness of a theft deterrent system depends on the specific technologies used, but overall, the use of
anti-theft systems is considered to be one of the most effective ways to prevent vehicle theft.
 Immobilizers
 An immobilizer is a device installed in a vehicle as a theft deterrent.

 It works by disabling the engine from starting unless the correct key or fob is present.

 Immobilizers typically use electronic chips in the ignition key or fob to send a signal to the vehicle's

computer, which then allows the engine to start.

 If an unauthorized key is used, the immobilizer will prevent the engine from starting, thus deterring

theft.

 Immobilizers are considered a very effective anti-theft measure, as they make it much more difficult

for a thief to start and steal a vehicle.

 Pass key generation
 Pass Key is a type of immobilizer system used in vehicles.
 It generates a unique code based on the resistance of a chip located in the ignition key or fob.
 When the key is inserted into the ignition, the vehicle's computer sends a request for the code.
 The key then sends back the code based on the resistance of the chip, which the vehicle's computer then compares

to the pre-programmed code.

 If the codes match, the vehicle's computer allows the engine to start.
 This system makes it very difficult for a thief to start the vehicle without the correct key, as each key has a unique

code that is specific to that vehicle.

 Pass Key is one of the most commonly used immobilizer systems and is considered to be a very effective theft

deterrent.
 It is a password.
Different keyless entry systems
 Keyless entry systems are electronic locking systems that allow a driver to unlock and start a
vehicle without using a physical key.
 There are several different types of keyless entry systems, including:
Key Fob Systems:
 This type of system uses a wireless fob that transmits a unique code to the vehicle when the
driver presses a button.
 The vehicle then unlocks or starts when the code is recognized.
Smart Key Systems:
 Smart key systems use a key fob that is equipped with additional features such as push-button
start, remote engine start, and more.
Cont..
Proximity Key Systems:
 Proximity key systems use radio waves to detect when the key fob is in close proximity to the
vehicle.
 When the key fob is close enough, the vehicle will unlock or start.
Biometric Systems:
 Biometric systems use fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans to unlock the vehicle.
Mobile App Systems:
 Mobile app systems allow drivers to unlock and start their vehicles using their smartphones.
Each type of keyless entry system has its own set of features and benefits, but they all provide the
convenience of not having to physically insert a key into the ignition.
content theft deterrent system
 A vehicle content theft deterrent system is a set of technologies and features designed to
prevent theft or unauthorized access to digital content stored in a vehicle, such as music,
video, navigation data, or personal information.
 This can include features such as encryption, access controls, and remote wiping
capabilities.
 The goal of a vehicle content theft deterrent system is to prevent sensitive information stored
in a vehicle from falling into the wrong hands and to make it more difficult for thieves to steal
or exploit the digital content stored in a vehicle.
 These systems are becoming increasingly common in new vehicles as the use of infotainment
systems and connected devices continues to grow.
control module
 A vehicle theft deterrent system control module is a computer that manages and coordinates

the various components of a vehicle theft deterrent system.

 The control module typically receives input from sensors and other devices and uses this

information to determine when the theft deterrent system should be activated.

 For example, if an alarm sensor is triggered, the control module may activate the vehicle's

alarm system.
Cont..
 The control module may also communicate with other systems in the vehicle, such as the

engine control module, to disable the engine if a theft is detected.

 The control module is typically located in the vehicle's wiring harness and is connected to

the other components of the theft deterrent system.

 The exact design and function of a vehicle theft deterrent system control module can vary

depending on the specific make and model of the vehicle, but it is an important component

of any theft deterrent system, as it ensures that all the components work together effectively

to deter theft.
 Car alarm sensors

 Modern car alarms are designed to respond to a variety of different security threats that can

lead to car theft or other car crime.

 These include the risk of a break-in via a car door, damage from impact and even loud noise

in the vicinity of the car itself.

 All of these sensors are connected to the alarm’s computer.

 If one of the sensors is activated by a potential car thief, the sensor sends a signal to the

computer and the alarm is activated, preventing theft or damage.

 Door sensors

 Door sensors are the most common sensors used in modern car alarms.

 When the alarm is active, the sensors send a signal to the alarm.

 If a car thief opens the door, the alarm sounds.

 Since most car thefts require the thief to break open your car’s lock and enter the vehicle,

door sensors are very effective in deterring theft.

 However, they usually don’t prevent a thief from breaking a window to enter your car or

towing it away.
 Shock/impact sensors
 Door sensors can stop a thief from breaking open your car’s door, but can they stop someone
from breaking a window to enter your car?
 Shock sensors detect hits and impacts around your car, such as the shock of someone
breaking a window.
 Shock sensors work by detecting when an impact occurs.
 If someone smashes one of your car’s windows, the shock sensor detects this impact and
transmits an alert to the alarm’s computer, The car alarm is then activated.
 Since shock sensors sound your car alarm whenever any impact occurs, they might
occasionally activate accidentally.
 If someone accidentally opens their door into the side of your car while parking, the impact
could be strong enough activate the alarm.
 Microphone sensors
 Since your car’s door alarms prevent thieves from picking its locks and the impact
sensors prevent them from smashing a window, thieves have fewer options to get into
your car and drive it away.
 However, they can still break a window using less impact, letting them get into the car.
 Microphone sensors prevent thieves from breaking into your car by monitoring for
loud, sudden noises such as a window breaking.
 Modern microphone sensors are designed to account for the ambient sound level in the
area close to your car.
 This means that in noisy areas, the sensor will listen for a sudden change in sound
level that could indicate a break-in taking place.
 Tilt sensors

 Thieves don’t necessarily need to break into your car in order to steal it.

 A car thief with a tow truck could simply lift up your vehicle and tow it away in order to strip it for

parts and sell it to someone else.

 Tilt sensors prevent thieves from towing your car away by monitoring the angle of your car.

 If your car’s angle changes, the tilt sensor sends a signal to the computer, which activates the

alarm.

 Modern tilt sensors use mercury, which conducts electricity, to monitor a car’s tilt level.

 If the car’s angle suddenly changes, the mercury flows to one side and causes the switch to
 Proximity sensors

 Proximity sensors, which are also known as perimeter scanners, work by scanning the area

around your car.

 These types of sensors are typically found in newer cars, particularly high-end models.

 Since proximity sensors monitor activity around your vehicle, they can often trigger false

alarms.

 Most modern proximity sensors are designed to calculate how close an object is to your car

and only activate if it becomes extremely close.

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