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Gadget to stop car thieves
Friday 31st August 2007, 6:59PM BST.
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A gadget which foils car thieves by recognising the owner’s fingerprints has gone on sale through a Black Country firm.
Central Cars, of Plant Street, Wordsley, is the only firm offering the fingerprint recognition system in the country.
It has been created by Automotive Technology Research & Development Ltd to prevent thieves from taking off with vehicles – even if they have the keys.
The car will only start once the owner, or an approved driver, gets into the vehicle and places their finger on a touchpad where their print is scanned.
If the fingerprint is not recognised the car will not start.
The device can be fitted to any car and consists of a small touchpad mounted on the dashboard.
The immobiliser can store up to 10 fingerprints in its memory and costs around £350 including the price of fitting.
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Nice idea. However, in this day and age of callous criminality, how can we be sure that a car thief won’t simply whip out a knife, lop off the finger of the driver, and take off in his motor?
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The system wont be reliable enough, how about is your finger gets cut or scarred and it doesnt regognise the finger print! its another money making racket!.dont be fooled by it,If someones going to steel your car they’ll do it.
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I don’t think criminals will goes to that extreme, as one they will be increasing their chargers. It will no longer just be vehicle theft when they go court!
Also criminals want to take vehicles with minimal hassle hence why they steal the keys in the first place. The vehicles then have to be sold, there not going to be able to sell the vehicle with a finger? Or they have to have the system removed which takes time and money. Also I don’t think the scanner work with dead fingers.
I feel if the criminals really want your car they will take it any way, just tow it way.
For peace of mind I think this device is a really good idea, if you loose or your keys are stolen you know that your car can not be started and it will also stop the kids from taking the car for joy rides.
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First off, they scan more than finger and usually check for a pulse if its a thumb and heat too. Secondly it depends on how many points of the fingerprint they actually scan for and this in turn reflects on the accuracy and thirdly, you would only spend this kind of money on a nice car, and we all know that most modern cars are difficult to steal now hence they break in and steal keys. There is one universal key that these of high value cars use its called a gun, and they use it while your in the car with your wife and kids.
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Why dont they make one of these, but with a simple number input, so you could have a PIN number like the chip and pin cash machines. So the only reason it wouldnt start is if you were too dopey to remember your pin number.
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I have one of these biometric immobiliser anti theft units fitted to my BMW M3 for over a year now. It came with it when I bought the car. I use the system every day, it seems ok to me. Also it’s a good excuse to stop friends and family, even the wife from taking my M3 for spin.
Oh you can also start the car with a pin number you don’t have to use your fingerprint, but it so easy to use I never bother with the pin code.
I think you may be taking it a bit far with fingers being chopped of and the gun issue!!
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If we all thought like you guys, we might as well give are cars away to criminals, why not make it easier? Leave the keys in the door when you park your car or just don’t buy a nice car to start off with. This device is designed stop the Opportunist thieves gives you bit more control over who can drive your car. The criminals who steal high performance cars, how do they get past all the tracking systems of the cars? They have it removed professionally and they will do the same with the immobiliser, but you’re making it virtually impossible for the amateur thief to steal your car and your making it more difficult for the professional thief. I should know I used steal high performance cars and spent 6 months in prison for it.
I feel this is going to be the future of car and home security,
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They cant cut your finger off and use it,
the fingerprint has to have a pulse!!
nice try though
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I had one these but thieves broke into my car and stole the fingerprint scanner
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