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PRODUCTS
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Microdots I Getting your vehicle back (or at least its constituent parts) can be next to impossible unless you've marked it with your name or postcode somewhere where the thieves won't think to look.
One option is to spray the engine, chassis, and various other areas with Mighty Dots.
They're microscopic polyester dots which are laser etched with the truck or trailer's identity number and Can be seen under ultra violet light.
The number is held on a security register that the police can refer to: a vehicle protected by these magic markers bears stickers to that effect.
A thief can always try to scrub them off, but since there are up to 20,000 in an application, it's unlikely he'll get rid of them all. Confronted with what looks like a lot of hassle, the odds are that he'll go away and steal someone else's pride and joy instead. Each application costs £180 and lasts the life of the vehicle.
Seals
• Anybody worried about loads being tampered with en route should think about protecting the doors to the truck or trailer's cargo area with elec tronic seals like those from Encrypta.
Encrypta's seals generate a random four-digit number every time a door is closed, and memorise the number as well as the date and exact time the door was closed. If the number is unchanged when the truck reaches its destination, then no attempt has been made to open the door.
An enhanced version. Crypta Data Tags, allows the number and other details to be transmitted to a computer via a radio transmitter.
If the number has Eiicrypta'S crypta Data Tag, been altered when the truck reaches its destination the computer will warn staff that there is a potential problem. The seals can also be linked to a satellite monitoring system—the haulier will be alerted if the door is opened without authority.
Prices range from £150 for a basic seal to 1470 for a radio frequency Data Tag.
Immobilisers and locks I Many new trucks come with factory-fitted immobilisers, often linked to the engine management system. But older vehicles did not come with that technology.
One option is to fit a key-operated air-brake immobiliser that prevents the parking brake from being released. Maple Fleet Technology can supply these devices for £295 including fitting, rising to 1.495 for the model that sets automatically.
The starter motor and ignition circuits can be
immobilised too, and Maple can fit deadlocks to cab doors at 1100 a door. Even if a thief smasl one of the windows, he won't be able to get the d open.
Also available from Maple are air-operated sl locks for roller shutter doors (1495 apiece): lo for bare-type doors: locks that will cut off a vehici fuel system; and a range of alarms too—an ala for an 18-tonner will cost about 1600.
Maple slamlocks can also be combined Encrypta Seals.
The Stockport-based company has been car ing out a lot of work on security systems with sm card technology, such as locks that will not o unless the right card is present.
Maple isn't the only company to produce brake locks: David Bramley Engineering suppl them too, along with red line locks (£47.25 apie that impede any attempt to couple up a tractive to a trailer. A kingpin lock can also be fitted course, but a red line lock is more likely to be us Also worth contacting is Simba, which has a w selection of immobilisers and other security pr ucts in its range: and Expresslock. which speciali in locks for roller shutters.
Tracking
• If somebody does make off with your truck, tl you've got a better chance of getting it back if yo equipped it with a tracking device.
The best known of these is Tracker, which three types in its range. Prices start at 1215 with annual subscription of £84.26, or a one-off paym of 1254 for as long as you own the vehicle.
With Tracker's Retrieve system the operator s to notify the police that his vehicle has been en, then he alerts the Tracker control centre. It automatically activate a covert homing device t will lead the police to it.
Monitor is the next step up. If an attempt is be to move the truck without using the keys, control centre will know, and will ring the °parr to ask if everything is OK. If it isn't, the operr contacts the police, rings Tracker, and the ming unit is switched on.
Horizon works in the same way as Monitor, the additional safeguard of satellite tracking. The satellite tracking systems used primarily fleet management can also be used to hance security. If a truck unexpectedly leaves route, for example, the operator can investia. Drivers of vehicles with tracking units can be upped with panic buttons so they can alert the ice in an emergency.
NavTrak has come up with a system that autotically warns the operator if an attempt is de to move one of his trucks without a smart rd being present.
Other tracking companies worth contacting lude Isotrak and Trafficmaster.
pot security
Palisade fencing (.E60-.£70 a metre), sliding ctric gates (£3,000) and CCTV (10,000000) will all help to keep the criminally inclined t of your yard and away from your precious cks. Talk to the British Security industry sociation for details.