Ferrari Press Agency - Adam Gillham - March 2006

CAR thieves are facing a tough time.....thanks to a new immobiliser which recognises a driver's fingerprint!

The amazing device, which is fitted to the car dashboard, will only let the driver start the vehicle with the key, once it has recognised their fingerprint.

It is set to be the latest weapon used to combat car crime in Britain and act as a deterrent against the car thieves who break into their victims' homes and steal car keys.

Police say that while car theft in general has declined significantly, night-time domestic burglaries remain a concern and there are indications of an increase in ‘creeper’ burglaries where homes are being entered just to steal the car keys to by-pass conventional immobilisers.

But the firm behind the new Biometric Immobiliser say their device could act as added weapon against car crime.

The Biometric Immobiliser has a dashboard-mounted screen that scans the fingerprint of anyone attempting to start the car.

When the driver gets into the car, they have to place their finger onto the pad.

Once the ok signal is given, the driver can then start the car in the usual way.

If the pad does not recognise a print, it by-passes the ignition and stops the engine from starting.

But the immobiliser does store up to 30 separate fingerprints in its memory so the driver's family can also drive the car.

A firm called Automotive Technology Research and Development (ATRD) is selling the device for £350 (pounds) each including fitting.

"There has been a large increase in car keys being stolen from people's homes so that they can steal cars parked outside.

"But with this system, the immobiliser has to recognise the print on the pad - otherwise it will not let the engine start when the driver turns the key in the ignition.

"This system can be fitted to the individual owner's needs - and can be linked up to the car's security system so that an alarm can be triggered if an unrecognised print is attempted.

"It will also hold up to 30 prints so that partners or other members of the family can still use the car.

"We hope it will act as a deterrent to thieves."

ATRD has informed a British police force about the device who have expressed an interest in it.

A spokesman for the Association of British Drivers said: "As a security measure, I could see this device being of use to some drivers who are security conscious."

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