Press Release - Vehicle crime to rise if car manufacturers don't adapt

 PRESS RELEASE - 15/09/2009

VEHICLE CRIME TO RISE IF CAR MANUFACTURERS DON'T ADAPT

 

Today, leading independent technical consultancy, SBD, has released a
new report highlighting the need for new anti-theft strategies for the
next generation of vehicles. 

 

Theft of vehicles is predicted to increase despite a downward trend over
the last 10 years, unless car manufacturers take an active approach to
evolve vehicle security systems. This is largely due to the global
nature of the automotive industry, the availability of technical
information and spread of organised crime. 

 

Vehicle crime has evolved from small independent groups operating on a
local or national level, to highly organised criminal gangs reaping
significant financial rewards on a global scale. As time and resources
are continually invested into developing systems to overcome security
measures, SBD's report, Vehicle Crime in the 21st Century and the Impact
of Electronic Theft Methods, exposes the methods in which criminals are
choosing to overcome devices, and the ways in which Original Equipment
Manufacturers (OEMs) can develop systems to combat this. 

 

Stealing car keys, fraud, and most significantly developing electronic
methods to beat security systems are the current preferred methods of
thieves and SBD reveals that at present almost every vehicle security
system can be bypassed. 

 

"With the popularity of the Internet, the ease of communication has
increased across the world and is yet another tool that criminals are
using to spread information about theft methods," commented SBD's
Managing Director, David Bell. "As many manufacturers use similar
'off-the-shelf' systems, tools to overcome these products can be made
common knowledge instantly. In order to tackle this, vehicle
manufacturers and suppliers need to develop new robust security
strategies that take into account the globalisation of vehicle crime."

 

DS Mark Tidy, from the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS)
added, "We welcome this report: although vehicle crime has generally
seen a decrease, AVCIS is aware for the need to stay one step ahead of
organised crime groups that profit from the theft of and from vehicles."

 

Notes to editors

 

To order a copy of Vehicle Crime in the 21st Century and the Impact of
Electronic Theft Methods, please contact a member of the SBD sales team
on telephone: 01908 305 101. 

 

SBD is one of Europe's leading independent technical consultancies
specialising in the design and development of vehicle security, low
speed crash structure, telematics and ITS systems. It provides research
reports and tailored consultancy for the automotive-related industry,
including vehicle manufacturers, suppliers and the aftermarket, as well
as government and insurance industries.


SBD was founded in 1995 by its three directors, all of whom have
extensive experience of working in vehicle manufacturers' design
centres. SBD was set up with the aim of helping vehicle manufacturers
and their suppliers bridge the gap between system design and actual
market needs. 

 

Launched in Western Europe, SBD has developed global interests, working
in Japan, North America, Brazil, Russia, India and China as well as
Malaysia and South Korea.

 

AVCIS is currently the UK lead in tackling vehicle-enabled crime and
works closely with the Home Office, all 43 UK Police Forces, SOCA, the
insurance industry and Thatcham in an effort to further reduce this area
of criminality and keep the public safe.