A preliminary assessment of the risks associated with engine immobilisers

It is generally perceived that motor vehicles are easy to break into and manufacturers have been slow to provide high quality locks for doors and tailgates. Various security devices are now available either as part of the new vehicle package or as after-market accessories. There are fundamentally two types of immobiliser system, the simple mechanical lock, for example that may clamp the steering wheel to the pedals, which is intended to prevent the vehicle from being driven away, and electronic devices that may provide various means of immobilising the vehicle and can have warning alarms fitted. It is unlikely that any of these devices are thief-proof but they may slow the thief down or discourage him from selecting a particular vehicle. This paper provides a summary of a preliminary study of the factors affecting the reliability of engine immobiliser systems which was carried out for the Police Scientific Development Branch, PSDB, in February 1993