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New weapon versus car theft
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Cellular-phone-like, tracking system introduced to B.C.
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The Province - B.C.
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Lora Grindlay
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6/24/1999
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It's either another expensive gadget for your car or it's peace of mind that no thief will get far with the vehicle.
Vancouver police and the Insurance Corp. of B.C. were on hand yesterday for the launch of the Boomerang, an anti-theft device that's new to B.C.. A
bout 6,000 cars in Ontario and Quebec have the three-year-old cellular-based tracking system. It costs $599 installed, and there is a $10 monthly monitoring fee. It works like a cellular phone system. A transceiver about the size of a cigarette package is hidden in the car. If the car is stolen, the owner contacts the company and the tracking, using BC Tel's Mobility Network, begins.
On average a car is located in about 45 minutes, said Ken Helferty, vice-president of Rankin Research, who developed and patented the device. The tracking begins by determining which cellular site the car is closest to. Then a more detailed system is used to pinpoint the location.
About 400 stolen cars have already been tracked in Ontario and Quebec. Once the BC Tel trackers home in on the car, they call police. In a demonstration for media yesterday a van equipped with the Boomerang was tracked to the Second Beach parking lot in Stanley Park. Helferty guessed the track would take 20 minutes, but mixed cellular signals over Burrard Inlet led the trackers to West Vancouver's Marine Drive before they found the van in the park. The search took about 45 minutes. Helferty guessed about 800 Boomerangs would be sold in B.C. in the first year. They can be bought through A&B; Sound, Ralph's Radio, Performance Car Stereo and other retailers.
Const. Anne Drennan said Vancouver police don't endorse specific brand names, but they do endorse the technology. "We do think it can absolutely make a difference, " Drennan said. In 1997, $20 million worth of cars were stolen in B.C.
In the past three months more than 3,000 B.C. cars have been ripped off ICBC's Brian Geary called interesting but so far the Crowf Corporation isn't offering discounts on cars that have it. "We'd like to see how effective it is," Geary said. "We'll take a look at it." ICBC offers up to $60 off annual policies for cars with passive anti-theft systems, also called immobilizers.
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| Boomerang
Tracking Inc. assembles, markets and distributes
the Boomerang Tracking System, a proprietary product
using technology patented by the Company. The
Boomerang Tracking System is the central device
in a cellular-based asset tracking system utilizing
the wireless systems of major regional telecommunications
companies. The Boomerang Tracking System is capable
of locating stolen automobiles, heavy equipment
and valuable objects. The Company's proven recovery
record has received endorsement by members of
the insurance industry. The Boomerang Tracking
System is installed through a network of authorized
dealers located throughout the provinces of Quebec,
Ontario and British Columbia. The Company's head
office, research and development, production and
corporate installation facilities are located
in Montreal, Quebec. Boomerang is a registered
trademark of Boomerang Tracking Inc. The shares
of Boomerang Tracking Inc. trade on The Toronto
Stock Exchange under the symbol BMG. |
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