subject: Car Alarm Systems Made Easy. [print this page] Auto theft is unfortunately not a rare experience, with the United States alone reporting auto break-ins and thefts at a rate of up to 180 per hour. In designing car alarm systems, many manufacturers have responded to this incredible demand by improving the capabilities of the devices they manufacture.
Despite the best efforts of innovative designers, car thieves are also demonstrating innovation of their own, keeping up with developments and seeking new ways to evade alarm systems. But does that really mean that car alarms don't provide adequate protection from thieves?
A basic car alarm is simply a continuous circuit; when a door is opened forcefully, the circuit is broken and the familiar siren is activated. More recent car alarms are based around a set of sensors which can detect small vibrations and which activate the alarm in response to any unreasonable pressure or force. If there is any major disturbance to the vehicle, like someone attempting to break in, shock sensors cause the siren to go off. Sometimes you can tell what has happened to the car just by listening to the alarm; a low-impact incident will often sound a sharp beeping pattern, while a serious security breach often sets off a long, blaring alarm. The shock sensors used in these car alarms are incredibly sensitive and can often be activated by something simple, like a passer-by leaning on your hood, or even by the ground vibrations caused by other cars in enclosed spaces like car parks.
There is consensus as to whether or not car alarms are effective in deterring thieves. Because sensor-based alarms are prone to sound accidentally, many people have become immune to their effects. The terrible wail of the car alarm has become so common that people barely notice them these days.
Manufacturers can no longer rely on old systems to do the job; they are undertaking projects to create new, proactive alarms to address the issue of car-related theft. Innovative technology has allowed manufacturers to create new alarms capable of disabling a stolen vehicle and transmitting its location to the appropriate authorities.
