October
28, 2004
-- 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 its moving.
"OnStar
works with law enforcement agencies across the country to
locate and help subscribers recover their stolen vehicles,"
said Cathy McCormick, OnStars 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 OnStars assistance, the vehicle
was located in Sharonville, Ohio, where authorities apprehended
the suspect who, as it turned out, was one the FBIs
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 owners vehicle back before its 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, GMs 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, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is
the nations leading provider of in-vehicle safety,
security and information services using the Global Positioning
System (GPS) satellite network and wireless technology.
OnStar is available on more than 50 GM models for 2004.
OnStar safety and security services include automatic notification
of air bag deployment, stolen vehicle location assistance,
emergency services, roadside assistance, remote door unlock,
GM Goodwrench remote vehicle diagnostics, and OnStar online
concierge. OnStar Personal Calling allows drivers to make
and receive hands-free, voice-activated calls. More information
about OnStar can be found at www.onstar.com.
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