What are anti theft devices and how do they work

By Lawrence Minnie

An anti theft device is anything that has been put in place to prevent a criminal from taking your car. Almost all new cars sold today have some form of anti theft device incorporated into their design.

All anti theft devices are designed to prevent the car from moving without your consent. This can be achieved by disabling the vehicle’s electrical system, or immobilizing the mechanical functions such as brakes, clutch or steering systems.

The efficacy of the device really depends on how smart or determined the would-be thief is. A simple door lock is an anti theft device but can easily be bypassed by a hoodie with a wire coat hanger in seconds, whereas a keyless entry system with coded keys will need some hi-tech equipment to duplicate a signal.

The technology of anti theft devices has really improved over the last few decades, taking us from blaring car alarms and steering wheel lock bars to laser cut- and microchip encoded keys. Next-generation possibilities include efforts by marques such as Tesla and Volvo, who are currently experimenting with finger print access.

In essence, nothing is theft proof: if a criminal really and truly wants something, they will use any means necessary to get it. All is not lost though, as manufacturers are always trying to stay one step ahead of the bad guys, and new ways are constantly being developed to thwart them.