MICRODOT TECHNOLOGY REDUCES CAR THEFT BY 50%
Santam Media Release, October 2006

MANY CAR OWNERS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NEW AND AFFORDABLE MICRODOT VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY TO PREVENT CAR THEFT AND IN SO DOING, KEEP THEIR PREMIUMS DOWN.

GERHARD GENIS, HEAD OF SANTAM’S CLAIMS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES SAYS, “ALTHOUGH NOT ALL THEFT PREVENTATIVE MEASURES WILL REDUCE MONTHLY INSURANCE PREMIUMS, IN THE LONG RUN THESE MEASURES WILL KEEP YOUR PREMIUMS DOWN BY REDUCING CLAIMS.

“IF YOUR CAR IS STOLEN AND REPLACED BY YOUR INSURER, YOUR PREMIUMS WILL GO UP, WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS DUE TO YOUR NEGLIGENCE, SO IT MAKES SENSE TO PREVENT THIEVES FROM TARGETING YOUR CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE.”

DATADOT IS AN AFFORDABLE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM COMPRISING OF AROUND 10 000 TINY MICRODOTS ENCODED WITH THE VEHICLES’ UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. THESE ARE THEN SPRAYED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE AND ARE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE.

“THIS IS GOOD NEWS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF RECOVERED STOLEN VEHICLES ARE CRUSHED BECAUSE THEIR ORIGINAL OWNERS CANNOT BE TRACED.”

SINCE THE SA LAUNCH OF DATADOT MAJOR CLIENTS AVIS AND CLARENDON TRANSPORT UNDERWRITERS HAVE SEEN A 52.4% DROP IN VEHICLE THEFT AND A NOTABLE INCREASE IN THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN VEHICLES – IN SOME CASES AS HIGH AS 87%.

THE TECHNOLOGY ALSO REDUCES THE SALE OF STOLEN PARTS BY “CHOP SHOPS” WHICH NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE SALE OF THE NEW PARTS BY DEALERS. IN ADDITION, OVER 250 MICRODOT RECOVERY KITS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO VARIOUS VEHICLE CRIME FIGHTING SECTIONS WITHIN THE SAPS.

“SAPS SAY THAT MICRODOTTING WILL CUT DOWN ON THEFT AND HIJACKING. FURTHERMORE, IT WILL HELP THEM IDENTIFY STOLEN VEHICLES. SUCH IS THE VALUE OF MICRODOTTING THAT BUSINESS AGAINST CRIME AND THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE ARE LOBBYING TO MAKE IT MANDATORY.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING DATADOT CALL SANTAM ON 0861 328 236.

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HANDS OFF THE TOYOTA QUANTUM
Toyota Microdot Press Release, September 2006

Fouche Burgers, a Project Manager of the Organised Crime Project at Business Against Crime South Africa, says statistics reveal that Microdot Technology could lead to a significant reduction in the number of vehicle thefts and hijackings - decreases of around 50 – 60% have been reported both locally and internationally.

Toyota South Africa took a leading role in improving vehicle identification and making it more difficult for criminals to sell stolen or hijacked cars by fitting ToyotaCare Microdots to all Toyota Quantum minibuses. Business Against Crime South Africa supports and applauds this decision and wishes to congratulate Toyota South Africa on taking this important step in the fight against crime.

The fitment of ToyotaCare Microdots to all Quantum vehicles proved to be extremely successful. Although the Quantum falls into the vehicle category with traditionally a high risk for theft and robbery, as far is could be determined not one Quantum has been reported as robbed or stolen during the first 18 months after release of the vehicles. Criminals consider these Mirodotted Quantum vehicles and their components as ‘contaminated’ making these vehicles less desirable for theft.

Microdot Technology has been identified as the most promising and cost effective means available of entrenching the identity of a motor vehicles and its parts, and should consequently be seen as an important addition to the suite of options available to combat vehicle crime.

The technology works through the application of thousands of small (typically 1 mm diameter) polymeric or metallic discs which have the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or agreed PIN, inscribed. These discs are typically applied in various locations of the vehicle through hand held, low pressure, spray systems, together with a suitable adhesive. Confirmation of vehicle identity is simply done by extracting a sample of the material and subjecting this to observation through a low powered, easy to use, microscope (which have already been distributed to the SAPS).

Once applied, the Microdots are extremely difficult to remove and serve as a lasting reminder of the original identity of the motor vehicle and its parts.

A further advantage is the relatively low cost of applying these Microdots, requiring a once-off application fee.

The technology serves multiple purposes and in addition reduces unlawful activities in the second hand parts market (illegal chop chops). The technology will assist the SAPS in identifying vehicles and vehicle parts in suspected chop shops, thus enabling the prosecution of offenders.

So far the technology has been applied to nearly 80 000 vehicles, largely at the request of rental companies and vehicle insurers and it is anticipated that a further 30 000 cars will be fitted with the microdots in the next year.

The Microdots can also be fitted to existing motor vehicles. This is something which Burgers says all motor vehicle owners should consider. This will not only reduce the risk of theft but will also increase the probability of recovering and returning the vehicle to its lawful owner.

Ideally, Burgers says, vehicle owners should insist on Microdot-fitted vehicles when buying a new vehicle until such time as this is included as a standard offering.

For more information contact:
Business Against Crime at 011 883 0717

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NISSAN LEADS THE WAY WITH ANTI-THEFT MEASURE MICRODOT TECHNOLOGY to BE INTRODUCED on all NEW VEHICLES - Nissan South Africa Press Release, October 2006

ROSSLYN, PRETORIA (Tuesday 03 October, 2006) -- Nissan South Africa announced today that it is to introduce a new security feature on all Nissan vehicles sold in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho - the five member countries of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

Aimed at reducing vehicle theft, the highly sophisticated laser microdot technology provides each vehicle with its own dentification in the form of myriad dots, which are etched onto various parts of the vehicles. Approximately 10 thousand high-tech dots are sprayed onto a minimum of 88 sites on the vehicle, making it difficult for would-be thieves to alter
the car's identity. The sheer number of dots, both in overt and covert locations, provides the vehicle with its own DNA. The dots are only visible under a low-powered microscope or UV light making it difficult to determine where they have been placed.

Nissan SA's director for marketing and sales Roel de Vries says the foolproof technology is the future of vehicle manufacture. "Nissan is at the forefront of a number of new technologies which are being introduced into the industry. We believe that by introducing microdot technology to improve vehicle security, we are adding value to our vehicles, an important aspect in customer satisfaction."

Nissan is the first vehicle manufacturer in South Africa to implement microdot technology as a standard feature. As from 03 October, microdots will now be applied to all new Nissan vehicles, both locally manufactured and imported.

Given the high incidence of vehicle theft in South Africa, microdot technology has been welcomed and endorsed by organisations in South Africa including Business Against Crime South Africa, the Vehicle Security Association of South Africa (VESA) and the National Vehicle Crime Steering Committee, whose members comprise, amongst others, the South African
Police Service, the Department of Transport, the SA Insurance Association, Business Against Crime, the Retail Motor Industry, the South African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association and the Banking Association. A number of car manufacturers and car rental companies are also making use of microdot technology.

Business Against Crime reports that typically over 100 000 vehicles are stolen and hijacked annually in South Africa annually. These vehicles are generally re-registered (53%), exported (37%) or chopped up for spares (17%), with only 40% being recovered. The organisation also reports that of the recovered stolen and hijacked vehicles, only 40% are returned to
their owners and the remaining 60% are either compacted or used by the State. Graham Wright, Deputy CEO of Business Against Crime says his organisation has supported microdot technology since it was introduced in South Africa five years ago.

"We believe it is an important additional means of identifying stolen vehicles and, as such, our organisation has been instrumental in the development of protocols for the application of the technology and its security requirements" says Wright.

VESA, a non-profit organisation that regulates the vehicle security industry, also endorses the product. VESA> '> s Marketing Manager Adri Smit says that microdot technology is having a positive impact on the return of recovered stolen vehicles.

"Microdot technology is helping to track vehicle owners, thereby reducing the percentage of cars whose owners cannot be traced," says Smit. "Because microdot technology is also endorsed by the SA Insurance Association, an added advantage is the possibility of reduced insurance premiums."

Adds Nissan's de Vries: "Although there are a number of other car theft deterrents, microdot technology has been found to be one of the most effective in its ability to retain the vehicle's identity. This makes the car a less desirable target for criminals, which in turn enhances the personal safety and security of the driver and occupants."

Actuarial evidence shows that motor vehicle theft is reduced by 50% with the technology, which also results in improved prosecution and conviction rates. The SAPS currently has in excess of one thousand police kits, comprising a UV light and small spotting scope, which are used to track and identify stolen microdotted vehicles or vehicle parts.

Developed originally in the United States to stop the illegal use of counterfeit gaming chips in Las Vegas, microdot technology has expanded into a worldwide product with many applications. Vehicle microdotting was launched by an Australian company and has since been introduced in a number of countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, the United
States, Russia, Taiwan and New Zealand. Although it has been applied to more than 80,000 vehicles in South Africa, there is a move for more widespread use of the inexpensive technology, both in new and used vehicles.

Microdot technology is also being used to mark household, office, and school items, as well as museum pieces.

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