Does anyone really have enough protection against car theft? It seems that whenever a new security product is developed, professional auto thieves learn to defeat it in a very short time. So I was very excited when Powerlock offered to install their product in my Miata. The Powerlock is attached permanently to the car?s starting system. What made me think this might really work is the fact that the folks at Powerlock are so confident that their product will prevent car theft from hotwiring, they offer a $10,000 Lifetime Anti-theft Guarantee. Powerlock will pay the cost of insurance deductibles up to $10,000 if the system fails to protect against hotwiring.
In addition, in the unlikely event installation causes a problem with the car, Powerlock will replace any part of the system that is at fault, along with towing charges and service repair costs. When a company is as willing as Powerlock to stand behind their product, it bears some investigating.
The statistics on vehicle theft are startling. Grand theft auto is the number one property crime in the United States. Studies show that 1.4 million vehicles were stolen during 1998 ? one third of which were never recovered. Stolen vehicles are either transported out of the country to lucrative markets overseas or sent to "chop shops" where the cars are dismantled often before the owner even knows the car is stolen. A dismantled vehicle has a street value of two to four times its showroom price when the body, interior, engine and drive train parts are sold through an international black market.
Drivers spent close to one billion dollars last year on steering wheel and pedal locks, alarms, shock sensors, immobilizers and trackers to keep their cars safely in their possession. Unfortunately, all these devices put together cannot prevent a professional thief from hotwiring the car and driving it away. A professional can remove a steering wheel bar or silence an alarm in seconds by cutting the wires. And who hasn?t just ignored the sound of an annoying alarm assuming it was a false alarm? I was stunned to see even my AutoTaser could be disabled.
Some factory installed security systems are so easy to bypass that the Highway Loss Data Institute?s 1998 list of the top seven vehicles stolen included four models that were equipped with factory-installed engine immobilizers. Sophisticated, expensive auto security systems are often quite complicated to install and professional thieves can practically write a manual on how to disable them. With vehicle tracking devices, the car may already be dismantled and on its way to parts unknown before the owner even misses it.
All of these devices have been unable to stop the epidemic of vehicle thefts. Professional thieves routinely hot-wire to get around alarms and deterrents. The hot-wiring process is the fastest and easiest way to get around the ignition key, start the vehicle and drive it away ? literally gone in 60 seconds!
So why is Powerlock different from all these other security methods? Powerlock has a unique "sealed" electronic system that is impossible to circumvent because it works with the starting circuitry of the vehicle. The system is easy to install and operate ? and it is 100% foolproof. Powerlock becomes an integral part of the starting system and cannot be removed or bypassed. It has no impact on the vehicle?s emissions, electrical, or ignition systems and it will not void any warranty. It works independently of factory security systems and other convenience features like keyless entry and is completely compatible with all other security devices. Powerlock makes a perfect foundation to a layered anti-theft system. Since my car is a convertible, Powerlock keeps thieves from driving the car away and the AutoTaser deters entry into the car for whatever nefarious purpose.
How is Powerlock operated? There is a factory-matched Coded Key which produces an encrypted electronic handshake telling the system it is all right to activate the starting circuit. The key reader is installed right next to the steering wheel, convenient to the ignition. Just tap the key reader with the key, wait for the green light and two beeps, and start the car. It is just that easy. If the car is not started within 45 seconds, the horn will sound for 60 seconds. If the system is tampered with in any way, the horn will sound.
When the ignition is turned off, the system arms itself after 45 seconds. (These few seconds are helpful when you realize you need to restart the engine to raise the electronic windows.) There is also a "valet mode" to temporarily deactivate the system for parking attendants, service personnel, repairs or car washes. The coded keys are mathematically impossible to duplicate.
I had my Powerlock installed in less than 45 minutes by an authorized dealer. Should I have a problem, there is a 24-hour toll-free customer service number for assistance. So far, so good!
And what does this miracle product cost? It can be installed for around $250. A small price to pay for guaranteed protection against hot-wiring. Powerlock is designed to fit all foreign and domestic makes and models of vehicles. The product is 100% manufactured in the USA with quality components.
For more information visit Powerlock.com.
