FORD has developed some wizardry to help drivers keep their Christmas prezzies safe by thwarting festive car thieves.
Aware that Christmas shoppers often return to their cars to drop off stuff mid-shopping spree, criminals sometimes use a signal jammer operating on the same frequency as vehicle locking systems to block cars from being successfully locked.
It means the criminals are then able to loot the vehicles unhindered.
But Ford’s vehicle security team has developed technology to stay one step ahead of the villains.
Models equipped with keyless entry remote central locking – Fiesta, Focus, C-MAX, S-MAX, Mondeo and Galaxy – can detect whether a locking command has been successful, and if not, will re-send it at a different frequency.
Ford’s security specialist Simon Hurr said: “Winter, and the festive season in particular, can be a lucrative period for both organised car criminals and opportunist thieves.
“As a former police special sergeant, I have witnessed first hand just how crafty car criminals can be and the distress their actions can bring to victims.
“Working with the police to analyse trends in car crime and the methods used by criminals, enables us to develop ways to prevent thieves from spoiling what should be the happiest time of year.”
Dark Christmas nights can be perfect for another activity that’s sure to earn car criminals a place on Santa’s naughty list – the smash and grab.
The Thatcham category 1 volume-sensing alarm available for the Focus, C-MAX, S-MAX, Kuga, Mondeo and Galaxy can detect a thief entering through a window and deliver a high-volume warning to deter intruders and attract attention to the crime.
In the past year, 1,189,000 British car owners were victims of car crime according to the British Crime Survey 2010/11, with 70 per cent suffering thefts of goods from the car with an average value of £202.
DCI Mark Hooper of the vehicle crime intelligence service added: “Strong security systems are an essential component in the battle against car crime, so we are delighted that Ford’s vehicle security department works alongside police car crime experts to understand the latest criminal techniques and car crime trends.
“This relationship helps Ford experts develop more effective vehicle security systems that benefit car owners and assist police forces by reducing opportunities for car criminals to strike.”
Car crime is not a problem restricted to the festive season, but dark nights combined with bustling towns and shopping centres full of distracted car owners with plenty on their to-do lists are elements that play into the hands of increasingly cunning car criminals.