NCJ Number
56610
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
SECURITY DEVICES RECOMMENDED FOR USE ON WEST GERMAN AUTOMOBILES ARE DESCRIBED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO POLICE COUNSELORS.
Abstract
CRIMES ASSOCIATED WITH CARS HAVE BECOME A MAJOR AREA OF CONCERN BECAUSE STOLEN CARS ARE OFTEN USED OTHER CRIMES, FREQUENTLY INVOLVED IN HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENTS, TAKEN BY JUVENILES IN 50 PERCENT OF THE CASES, AND RARELY (25 PERCENT) TRACED TO THE CULPRITS. MECHANICAL DEVICES EFFECTIVE IN CONTROLLING THEFTS INCLUDE BUILT-IN STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, DOOR LOCKS AND SELF-INSTALLED DOUBLE DOOR LOCKS, ELECTROMAGNETIC LOCKS ON THE GAS LINES BETWEEN MOTOR AND TANK, WHEEL RIM LOCKS, AND IGNITION CURRENT BREAKERS INSTALLED AT HIDDEN LOCATIONS IN THE MOTOR. ACCORDING TO EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY REGULATIONS, ALARMS ACTIVATED WHEN A CAR IS BEING STOLEN CAN BE ACOUSTIC OR OPTICAL, MUST TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY AFTER 30 SECONDS, AND MAY BE PRODUCED BY THE HORN; JOLTS TO THE CAR SHOULD NOT SET OFF THE ALARM FROM OUTSIDE. THE TECHNICAL INSPECTION ASSOCIATION OF HANNOVER CHECKS ALARMS BUT THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL TESTING LABORATORIES, SO POLICE COUNSELORS MUST RELY ON RESULTS OF PRIVATE GROUPS FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS. ALARM SYSTEMS MAY BE CONTACT SYSTEMS ON EXISTING CONNECTIONS (E.G., DOOR LIGHTS), SYSTEM SET IN MOTION WHEN CURRENT IS DRAWN FROM THE BATTERY, ULTRASOUND SYSTEMS IN THE AUTOMOBILE INTERIOR, SYSTEMS ACTIVATED BY MOTION (IF NOT TOO SENSITIVE), AND OSCILLATOR-GENERATED FREQUENCY FIELD SYSTEMS. ALARM SWITCHES CAN BE LOCATED ANYWHERE ON THE BODY OF THE CAR AND SHOULD BE DELAYED SO THAT THE CAR OWNER CAN SWITCH OFF THE SYSTEM BEFORE THE ALARM GOES OFF. ALARMS MASS PRODUCED FOR PARTICULAR CAR MODELS ARE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THEIR REDUCED EFFECTIVENESS. A LIST OF MECHANICAL SECURITY MEASURES FOR TRUCKS, AND FREIGHT ON FLAT-BED TRUCKS IS SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)