AUTO LOCKSMITHS
“ Our job is to make sure that van thieves cannot do their job ”
» THEFT OF TRADE TOOLS AND vehicles are not only devastating acts of crime , but can cause short term and long term damage to business ; the immediate impact being that of the initial theft but the long term being loss of earnings through cancelled jobs , replacement kit and rising insurance rates .
Now , with a recent Logistics UK report on vehicle theft recording that the average cost of contents stolen per van was up from £ 549 to £ 575 in the first half of 2020 , plus nearly 70 % of people surveyed incurring financial costs or 58 % reporting productivity loss , TVL Security is urging tradesmen and van drivers to make it even tougher for thieves to get their hands on ( and in ) their vans and providing locksmiths with all the tools they need to help them do it .
Here , TVL ’ s Luke Powell , takes us through three different OBD products plus a new anti scan wallet that both make it very difficult for wannabe van thieves to drive off in your vehicle …
“ TVL ’ s research and development team has more than 85 years experience in security ,” begins Luke , “ so between us , we have seen and heard of almost every type of vehicle crime and theft . As vehicle manufacturers think of new ways to update their vehicles ’ specifications , so we must upgrade
OBD-protector
our methods of preventing crime . Unfortunately , burglars and thieves are also masters of diversification , which means as well as keeping up with car and van designs we need to stay one step ahead of the criminals .
“ As well as working with the Police to keep our eye on current theft ‘ trends ’, working behind the scenes on the latest designs and developments , the final piece of the crime prevention puzzle is making sure that locksmiths and auto locksmiths are up to speed with all the different kit ; making it even easier for them to stock , install , and of course , sell to their customers .”
OBD Port Protection
“ Every vehicle has an OBD Port , but there are three ( main ) different ways in which they can be compromised by a thief to drive away your car . Thieves have discovered a new way to steal vehicles by overriding the manufacturer ’ s immobilisation system by connecting a Laptop / PDA / EDI Key into the OBD Socket and bypassing the vehicles built in immobiliser .
“ TVL has a Code Operated , Electronic , and Key Operated version of the OBD Port Protector , depending on the make and model of the car or van . The installation is non-invasive , making it a simple fit for the locksmith and a no-brainer for the customer .”
Code Operated The patented , lockable OBD
Port Protector encompasses the
OBD Port Plug in a secure box which is opened by entering the correct 4-digit code , preventing thieves from stealing your vehicle by this method . Non-invasive installation means the product is easily installed for instant protection with no special tools .
Electronic
This passively armed electronic OBD port immobiliser disarms the OBD port by disabling CANBUS communication
Anti-scan Wallet
between the ECU and the OBD port itself . This means when the immobiliser is in its passive armed state the OBD port cannot be used to connect to the vehicles ECU to overcome the vehicle immobiliser and / or program blank keys to start the vehicle .
Key Operated The patented , lockable OBD Port Protector encompasses the OBD Port Plug in a secure , key operated box preventing thieves from stealing your vehicle by this method .
Anti-Scan Wallet
“ Something which auto locksmiths can keep in their vans and locksmiths can stock in their shops , is the TVL Anti- Scan Wallet , which protects a key ’ s signal when placed inside by cloaking the signal in its special lining .
“ Keyless car / van technology is not new , however equipment available on the market which extends the signals emitted by the remote are now more affordable and accessible in an unregulated market . The pouch has been tested by TASSA for 10,000 cycles to prove longevity and that the effectiveness of the lining doesn ’ t degrade with use .
“ Homeowners are turning to specialised key safes at home to protect their vehicles from this form of theft , but the Anti-Scan Wallet means that keys can also be ‘ cloaked ’ when out and about .”
www . tvl-ltd . co . uk
72
MAR / APR 2021
locksmithjournal . co . uk Issue Takeover
Magazine Sponsor