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Micro-dots "cut car theft and hijacking by 60%" The best way to prevent a car from being stolen and ending up across the border or in a chop-shop is with micro-dot technology, the South African Police Service has told MPs. National Assistant Commissioner Vinesh Moonoo said the police's vehicle crime steering committee, which includes Business Against Crime (BAC) had embarked on a campaign to get all vehicle manufacturers to use the identification system. Micro-dotting involves the spraying of minute dots on a vehicle, in effect giving the vehicle a fingerprint that is invisible to the naked eye. Moonoo said each dot contained the history of the vehicle, so even if it ended up in a chop-shop police could with one dot, trace its source. "Some of the rental companies are using it and the drop in theft has been dramatic. Usually when a car is hijacked, they remove the number plates, (vehicle indentity number) and engine numbers and then it's very difficult to trace." Many stolen cars ended up across the border and some had been traced to Mauritius. Attempts to convince car manufacturers to use the technology had encountered some resistance, largely because of the cost involved. BAC spokesman Fouche Burgers said micro-dotted vehicles were seen by criminals as being "contaminated". He said BAC would prefer manufacturers to micro-dot vehicles as this would cost them R400 a vehicle, compared with between R800 and R1 200 for owners. According to insurers, micro-dotting reduced the incidence of theft and hijackings by 60%. Burgers warned, however, that it was not a "total solution". |
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