VICC approves deterrent

In a post NAEC media conference, VICC president Henning Norup says the organization has approved its first “after market” anti-theft deterrent system, where the device has been fitted to the vehicle other than the manufacturer. The Autowatch 329 Ti immobilizing device, a system developed by PFK Electronics based in South Africa, passed all of VICC’s theft system standards. Norup notes $600 million is paid out annually relating to auto theft costs and while the theft system standards will not necessarily stop thieves from loading stolen cars onto a flatbed truck and hauling them away, standard use of these types of deterrents could help combat the trend. “The issue here is that there is a big international market for stolen cars. As an industry, we have to make it harder to this market to continue,” he says.

Robert Tremblay, the IBC’s manager of public affairs, commends VICC’s standards and the NAEC conference, but adds it’ll take greater involvement from all sectors to combat the rising wave of theft. “Clearly, when auto theft reaches the proportions its has today, it is a social problem. In 1967, 48,000 cards were stolen and 98% were recovered. More cars are not recovered today then the total amount of cars stolen 30 years ago.” He adds everyone is a stakeholder, from government, private industry through to the public, all of which have to become a part initiatives. “The insurance industry can do its part, but it cannot fight alone,” he warns. cu