GM's OnStar Helps Police Locate, Recover Stolen Vehicles
28 Oktober 2004 - 4:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
GM's OnStar Helps Police Locate, Recover Stolen Vehicles In-Vehicle
Service Continues to Prove its Value to Subscribers and Law
Enforcement DETROIT, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Auto theft in the U.S.
increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2003, climbing 1.1
percent from 2002, according to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation's annual Uniform Crime Report. In 2003, General
Motors' OnStar continued to prove itself as a valuable tool in
assisting law enforcement with the recovery of its subscribers'
stolen cars, trucks, SUVs and motor homes. OnStar receives on
average more than 500 requests per month from subscribers asking
for assistance in locating their stolen vehicles. Additionally,
more law enforcement officials are working with OnStar to help
solve subscriber related crimes from auto-theft rings, robberies,
kidnappings and carjackings. OnStar also works closely with the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to encourage
subscribers to report information related to AMBER Alerts. Earlier
this year an OnStar subscriber from Leawood, Kansas received an
alarming wake up call from the collision center where he had taken
his 2004 Cadillac Escalade for minor repairs. Stephen Summers was
told by a body shop representative that his vehicle had been stolen
during the night. Summers contacted OnStar to report the theft.
Within minutes, OnStar located the stolen Escalade and was able to
notify the Kansas City Police Department. When an OnStar-equipped
vehicle is stolen, an OnStar adviser uses Global Positioning System
(GPS) satellite and wireless cellular technologies to attempt to
locate the vehicle and will notify police of the location of a
stolen vehicle, even if it's moving. "OnStar works with law
enforcement agencies across the country to locate and help
subscribers recover their stolen vehicles," said Cathy McCormick,
OnStar's process manager for emergency services. "The combined
effort between the police and OnStar to locate and recover stolen
vehicles helps to round out our safety and security promise to our
subscribers and helps them better protect their property." Last
March, OnStar was instrumental in the recovery of a 2004 HUMMER H2,
which was stolen from an OnStar subscriber in Brentwood, Tenn. With
OnStar's assistance, the vehicle was located in Sharonville, Ohio,
where authorities apprehended the suspect who, as it turned out,
was one of the FBI's most- wanted fugitives. This is another
example of the value of this relevant in-vehicle safety technology.
"Electronic vehicle locating systems can help reduce the amount of
the time it takes police to locate a stolen vehicle and apprehend
the suspects," said Col. Paul McClellan, superintendent of the Ohio
State Highway Patrol. "Our goal is to get the owner's vehicle back
before it's been damaged. Citizens can help by taking the best
precautions to help deter theft." The not-for-profit National
Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) recommends a multi-layer of
protection to deter auto theft. In addition to the more
sophisticated in-vehicle communications devices that combine the
GPS and wireless technologies, NICB also recommends motorists use
common sense, such as not leaving keys in the car, locking doors
and parking in well-lit areas; and the use of visual and audio
deterrents, such as steering wheel locks and car alarms. Since its
inception in 1996, OnStar has responded to about 17,000 stolen
vehicle location requests from its subscribers. There are more than
2.7 million OnStar subscribers on the road today. In addition to
stolen vehicle location efforts, GM's OnStar, which is available to
subscribers in all 50 states, continues to work closely with
emergency personnel to report thousands of motor vehicle
emergencies every year. In the first six months of 2004, that
included responding to: -- 2,700 airbag notifications -- 36,000
emergency requests -- 124,000 remote door unlocks -- 65,000
roadside assistance efforts For the 2006 model year, 3 million GM
vehicles in North America will be equipped with OnStar. The
increase of OnStar-equipped GM vehicles will grow incrementally, up
from 1.4 million in 2004 and 2.2 million in the 2005 model years.
About OnStar OnStar, available on more than 50 models from General
Motors and select models from six other auto manufacturers, is the
nation's leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and
communications services using the Global Positioning System (GPS)
satellite network and wireless technology. OnStar services include
automatic notification of air bag deployment, stolen vehicle
location assistance, emergency services, roadside assistance with
location, remote door unlock, GM Goodwrench remote vehicle
diagnostics, route support and convenience services. OnStar
Personal Calling allows drivers to make and receive hands-free,
voice-activated phone calls through a nationwide cellular network
and access a wide range of other information services. More
information about OnStar can be found at http://www.onstar.com/ .
DATASOURCE: OnStar CONTACT: Robert Herta of OnStar,
+1-313-665-2790, Web site: http://media.gm.com/ http://www.gm.com/
http://www.onstar.com/
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