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long with the increasing number of car thefts, more choices in car security systems are available, from conventional devices to the latest electronic technologies.

Car thefts are getting worse. The Jakarta Police recorded 966 cases of car thefts in their 2013 year-end report. This figure is 17 percent higher than the 828 cases recorded in 2012. Meanwhile, settlement rates remain quite low, with only 29 percent, or 246 cars having been successfully recovered.

Break-ins are also occurring with increasing regularity. Such an incident even occurred in the front parking lot of police headquarters when in late November three police cars were found with broken windows. The event ran the news circuit.

Most cars, particularly new ones, already come equipped with anti-theft systems. However, more often than not, these systems fail to prevent intruders from breaking into the car and, in the worst cases, stealing the vehicle. As a consequence, experts have been called on to develop improved anti-theft devices.

 Several anti-theft products are easy to obtain and car security specialists are easy to contact. From online virtual shops to physical workshops, alarm experts are available to explain as well as respond to questions regarding various types of anti-theft devices for automobiles.  

From the invention of the first steer lock to the introduction of RFID (radio frequency identification) tags and biometric identification, anti-theft systems continue to evolve in order to complement new car technologies.  

A steer lock, or driving wheel lock, is probably the most conventional means of preventing a car from being stolen. This device is just a steel shaft that prevents the wheel from moving freely; people only need to adjust the shaft length and lock it to prevent an intruder from driving the car.

To protect valuables inside, experts have developed car alarms with shock sensor systems. When an uninvited guest tries to approach the car, the alarm sounds.

'€œThieves usually try to force open the windows and doors in order to get in. Their efforts will generate pressure that will trigger the alarm. This is the first-generation car-security system,'€ explained Hilman, owner of a garage at Percetakan Negara, Central Jakarta.  

Alarms with shock-sensor systems are currently available on the market in many variants. The starter disable sensor is a type that will cut the electrical current in the ignition device when an intruder tries to start the engine. Thieves may get into the car and grab the valuables, but will be unable to drive the car away.

An alarm featuring anti-grab prevention was developed to anticipate code hijacking. In this technology a remote control generates a different code and uses different frequency to randomly communicate with the sensor receiver. Those nearby who try to tap into the broadcast will collect different, ultimately useless data.

The advancement of electronic technology has led to the invention of an immobilizer. Andy, a car technician who works at Proton Edar Indonesia in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, explained that this electronicdevice, being the vehicle'€™s engine control unit, (ECU) prevened the engine from running unless the correct key was present.

The microcircuit inside the key is activated by a small electromagnetic field that induces current to flow inside the body of the key. This in turn broadcasts a unique binary code that is read by the ECU. The ECU then activates the fuel-injection sequence after determining the validity of the coded key, according to Andy.

Correspondingly, Andy said, if the code is not recognized, the ECU will not allow fuel to flow or the ignition to start. The latest models of immobilizers can generate rolling codes or advanced cryptography that prevents copying of the code from either the key or the ECU.

According to Andre, owner of Prestige Cars, a showroom at WTC Mangga Dua, in Mangga Dua, North Jakarta, an immobilizer is only common for expensive cars. Popular products like the Toyota Avanza, Daihatsu Xenia and Suzuki APV are not yet equipped with this device, he said.

Since 2012, however, Proton has begun installing immobilizers in its affordable model car, the Proton Saga Variant. Also in 2012, Suzuki included an immobilizer in its Suzuki Ertiga.   

The advancement of communication infrastructure has also given rise to the global positioning system (GPS). This tracking device communicates to a satellite that can track movements on all surfaces throughout the world.    

Asti from Indogps, a tracking provider, said the system worked on GSM/GPRS frequencies that are common for cell phones, thus allowing the device to provide users with easy control via their handsets.

'€œThey can use cyberspace to accurately track their position, including travelling routes and coordination.'€

 The GPS tracking device sends back full real-time data of the vehicle'€™s movements, including notification regarding when the engine started and stopped, whether it traveled above the maximum speed limit, or if and when it passed over the restricted border. Conversation inside the car can also be recorded and monitored.

Users are able to communicate with the device via short-message service (SMS), enabling the handset to shut down the engine.

Lately, carmakers are competing to produce smart cars, or sophisticated vehicles with advanced functions, to suit the needs of different customers. Smart cars are computerized and can connect with the Internet.

Yet despite the advanced development, threats to safety remain in smart cars, especially from hackers, as a smart car heavily depends on Internet connection. Privacy, software updates, and mobile applications concerning automobiles are crucial issues that relate to the potential for hacking.

Last year, Sky News reported that half the car-theft cases in London were no longer the result of physical force; they were done via computer hacking where hackers intercepted the safety-system signal to connect with the automotive computer and thereby control the vehicle.

As anti-theft devices for cars become more sophisticated, car thieves and intruders also get better at their crimes. In addition to utilizing the latest technologies, then, perhaps it is best to supplement with more conventional devices, like the steer lock.