Thanks to new technology, Ford cars will now be able to notify their owners when they’re being stolen.
Although car alarms can help protect cars, they don’t always deter car thieves. The sound of car alarms going off is so prevalent that it is no longer one that causes us to stop what we’re doing and go investigate whether it’s simply an alarm on the fritz or an actual theft.
In light of what they say is still a significant issue, Ford has released a new security system for their cars called SecuriAlert. Previously named Guard Mode, this upgraded feature is a smartphone app that will alert car owners when someone tries to open the car’s doors or uses a key to get in. Users can activate the alarm via the app when they leave the car. Using an onboard modem, the car will then alert the app user if anyone tries to access the car—including something as simple as someone trying to open a door. This can be especially helpful if the owner parked somewhere out of sight or earshot of the car. It also sends an alert even if someone uses a key to access the car, which can help in cases where thieves use cloned or stolen keys.
SecuriAlert logs the time of any access and the last known location of the car. This newest security featured will undoubtedly be adopted more widely by other car manufacturers to help car owners protect their valuable assets.