The right ant-theft equipment doesn't only protect your truck; it can cut your insurance premiums.
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Are your trucks secure
• How safe is your truck? No doubt you have a goods-in-transit insurance policy which demands an approved security system, with the snappily named BS6803: Pt3; 1990—Class IV. Ironically, your office junior's 25,000 Ford Fiesta is expected to meet a higher level of security than your valuable trucks with their valuable loads, as this is the generally accepted standard.
Apply for car insurance and you will be asked if you have a Thatchamapproved security system; if not, you can expect your premium to cost you more, or you might even be turned down altogether.
At present only one manufacturer, Scorpion Security Systems, produces a combined security system that meets the Thatcham Category H1 requirements (see box). Its system is available as an aftermarket product, and also as original equipment or some Dafs and Valves. Thatcham Category H2 immobilisers are also produced by Scorpion as aftermarket and as Mercedes, Oaf and Volvo DE, and also by Cummins and ERE So what turns an ordinary system into one with the coveted Thatcham approval? The basic components are the same, but it's their resistance to attack that makes the grade. Let's start with the method of arming. However many key combinations a mechanical switch has, it is still vulnerable to the sort of physical attack that gives access to the power terminals.
There have even beer cases where lazy drivers have used locking pliers to hold switches in the "on" position. An automatic passive arming system, with rolling encryption preventing 'code grabbing", is much more reliable.
The immobiliser unit and the fuel valve both present similar problems. Either can be bypassed electrically or attacked magnetically. Scorpion's solution is to add an extra input to the switching process, with an electronically coded data signal required to activate the internal switch, and a high degree of electro-magnetic shielding is provided.
The integration with the engine is now considerably easier, thanks to the proliferation of electronically controlled units needed for Euro-3.
The final major component is the siren, and that's worse than useless if some toerag fills it with expanding foam. Scorpion makes its own, which is foam-proof, as well as able to resist the more routine attacks from the elements and truck washing. Even the best siren is no use if it's been chopped off, so careful mounting is needed to give the three minutes' attack resistance required by Thatcham.
Other elements of Scorpion's system include two immobilisation circuits, nine independent circuits monitored by the alarm, door-open and trailer-disconnection warnings and cab ultrasonic protection. Typical costs for a Scorpion system are £400 for a Cat. H2 immobiliser and £750 fore basic Cat. H1 combined system.
To ensure correct and lasting protection, installation should be according to the code of practice published by the Vehicle Security Installation Board and with a regular maintenance regime. Scorpion reckons that a £60 annual check-up is sufficient.
One final warning. All the security systems in the world can't cover every level of carelessness, as one operator recently found out. When both crew members of a truck carrying duty-free merchandise left the cab with the engine running to open the rear doors at the loading dock, a waiting thief made off. To make matters worse, the security man on the gate of the bonded depot recognised the truck and waved it through!
• by Coln Barnett