Nearly three months after authorities launched a new anti-theft system promising that it would become available to the public within days, the LoJack system is still not available to motorists.
President of Intelligent Security Devices International Limited Dr. Conville Brown told the Bahama Journal on Tuesday that the delay in making LoJack available has to do with his team waiting on feedback from police on the use of a feature in the new version of the LoJack system, which would enable officials to disable a vehicle remotely.
The new system will replace the existing system which has been in use since its inception in the United States 15 years ago.
The new early warning system would send an alert to the police if a LoJack vehicle is in any way started without a special key. Dr. Brown explained that the new system provides an added layer of protection on top of the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System to give customers peace of mind.
Subscribers would carry a personal LoJack Early Warning Key Pass that sends a signal to the LoJack Early Warning Recovery System confirming that they are an authorized driver.
“The new system will notify police if the car is moved or started without the special system key,” Dr. Brown said. “Even if a car is towed or if someone bumps against it, it sends a signal and police would then have the ability to disable the vehicle.”
Dr. Brown also said that the cost of the new system had not been finalized.
He said the system is expected to cost $399 if a customer is going through an insurance company which is not a recognized LoJack agent. He also said there will be special discounted rates for insurance premiums for persons with LoJack installed.
The LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System is a silent tracking device hidden in a vehicle that is automatically activated by the police when a vehicle is reported stolen and enables the police to track and recover it.
LoJack is a patented system that includes a small radio frequency transceiver hidden in up to 20 places in a vehicle, according to the companyﾒs website. Each LoJack system has a unique code that is tied into the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
When a car theft is reported to the police, a routine entry into the police crime computer results in a match of the LoJack Systemﾒs unique code against the policeﾒs VIN database, according to the LoJack website. This automatically activates the LoJack System in the vehicle, which emits an inaudible signal.
Undersecatry in the Ministry of National Secrity Peter Deveaux-Isaacs said that from a government point of view it is now in the hands of the private firm to deliver LoJack to motorists.
“We have provided the facility that would act as the control room for the equipment, and so it is now up to the private entrepeneurs to get the units in,” Mr. Deveaux-Isaacs said. “There is great demand for (LoJack units). I think once they get them in stock they want to be able to get them out to enough people.”
He said the ministry expects that the full implementation of LoJack will happen soon.
“But Iﾒm sure that whatever hiccups they are having, Iﾒm sure itﾒs just in getting the units here,” Mr. Deveaux-Isaacs said.
According to Dr. Brown, all of the devices needed to have the system up and running are in The Bahamas.
By: Stephen Gay, The Bahama Journal
