Holden Assist foils thief

[jeff3205]

From The Age online today:

"Police have used satellite technology to nab an alleged car thief in Perth.

A police spokesman said the 20-year-old man allegedly broke into a Yangebup home, in Perth's southern suburbs, at about 2am (WST), and stole the keys to a luxury Holden Calais car.

The owner of the $55,000 car contacted the manufacturer, who activated the vehicle's global positioning system (GPS), the spokesman said.

Police tracked the vehicle to an address in the southern suburb of White Gum Valley and found the car parked on the front lawn.

The man was due to face Fremantle Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with one count of aggravated burglary and one count of car theft."

[korrupt]

Holden should still be offerring this as an option on all models.

[Glenn@Autowerks]

I agree, I had the only VYSS Ute with it, I thought it was great.

They should offer it as standard, who cares if the price of the car goes up :lol:

[vzsv6]

Any Melburnians might remember a similar thing happening here a couple of years ago which made the news... A thief drove off in a VY Calais from the valet parking at Crown Casino.. He was tracked via Holden Assist, and after a brief police pursuit the engine was immobilised and he was apprehended. The funny thing about it was the way the cops belted the sh*t out of him when they pulled him out of the car. :lol:

[Glenn@Autowerks]

Any Melburnians might remember a similar thing happening here a couple of years ago which made the news... A thief drove off in a VY Calais from the valet parking at Crown Casino.. He was tracked via Holden Assist, and after a brief police pursuit the engine was immobilised and he was apprehended. The funny thing about it was the way the cops belted the sh*t out of him when they pulled him out of the car. :lol:
I remember that...

On another issue, Holden discontinued Holden Assist because of lack of interest, but they NEVER advertised what it was. Good guys in the advertising dept @ Holden :bash:

[Wonky]

On another issue, Holden discontinued Holden Assist because of lack of interest........ or expense???

[Glenn@Autowerks]

........ or expense???
Expense is a big factor when people are buying cars on a budget !!

But my reasoning is spend 40k, whats another 2k for security like that...

I have used it, they rang me when the ute was 3 days old, said flat battery alert...I said yer kidding...I had left the lights on after playing in the garage :eek: It did the right things by me.

I would have it in the clubbie now if still available :D

[CarlFST60L]

Personally, i would protect my house and my car for 2K, not even 2K!
SMS Car alarm with remote immoblise around $800
Monitored home alarm around $500

[VooDoo]

Ive used it a few times for a flat battery and once for a flat tyre (didnt want to get my hands dirty).

At $375 per year to renew its not the cheapest but the knowledge your car is tracked anywhere is pretty good (need to have Mobile coverage though). Only the Grange and Caprice still come with the option i think.

[korrupt]

If you are reading this Mr Holden, at least give us the option on VE...

[Glenn@Autowerks]

Personally, i would protect my house and my car for 2K, not even 2K!
SMS Car alarm with remote immoblise around $800
Monitored home alarm around $500

Totally depends on what system u have...

[vh-holden]

can you retrofit it from an older model into a new one, or an even older one?

[pagey]

At $375 per year to renew its not the cheapest but the knowledge your car is tracked anywhere is pretty good (need to have Mobile coverage though). Only the Grange and Caprice still come with the option i think.


Better hope the Missus doesn't get a copy of the log Stu!

You better start making up excuses as to why you travel out to Willowbank Wed nights! :lol:

edit - cant use the mistress line - no one would belive that!!

[Dickie Knee]

can you retrofit it from an older model into a new one, or an even older one?


It would take a lot of work to retro fit it in to the VH :lol:

[vh-holden]

It would take a lot of work to retro fit it in to the VH :lol:

if i did manage to get it fitted, would they come out and fix the rust for me?

[Heli]

Standard in the Grange: it helped bring my premium down about 40% over the WHII. Handy to have, although it is dependent on the Telstra GSM network for communications, so it's not foolproof.

[kazido]

Standard in the Grange: it helped bring my premium down about 40% over the WHII. Handy to have, although it is dependent on the Telstra GSM network for communications, so it's not foolproof.

Heli, what insurance company did u use?

FYI...I read on the holden site that they are NOT to be transferred to other vehicles.

[kazido]

A long shot, but...anyone know if these would be able to be connected to a screen on dash so i dont have to buy an aftermarket sat nav unit?

Told u it was a long shot :D

[Glenn@Autowerks]

A long shot, but...anyone know if these would be able to be connected to a screen on dash so i dont have to buy an aftermarket sat nav unit?

Told u it was a long shot :D

Been there, done that, the short answer is no

[VooDoo]

A long shot, but...anyone know if these would be able to be connected to a screen on dash so i dont have to buy an aftermarket sat nav unit?

Told u it was a long shot :D


Connect what exactly to the screen? Assisit is basicly a GPS tracking device with a built in mobile phone. If you want a GPS you can get a USB based reciever off ebay for $80. Its not the hardware thats expensive (Sat nav) its the software and maps that boost up the price.

There was a thread on LS1.com where someone tapped into the GPS reciever but he said for all the work involved he should have just bought a 3rd party reciever. (it voids warranty on the whole setup if you tap into it anyway)

[pah]

Hi all,

Companies such as Qiktrak offer a similar service. It may not have all of Holden's bells and whistles but it at least offers vehicle tracking if it is stolen.

http://www.quiktrak.com.au/

Do these systems work everywhere?

"Faraday cages are often put to a dual purpose: to block electric fields, as explained above, and to block electromagnetic radiation."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage





PAH

[VooDoo]

eerrr WTF? Whats a Holden assist or GPS (or this thread) got to do with Faraday cages. You lost me on that one Pah :)

[Glenn@Autowerks]

eerrr WTF? Whats a Holden assist or GPS (or this thread) got to do with Faraday cages. You lost me on that one Pah :)

It is Saturday night, who knows what people get up to before posting :lol: :lol:

[Heli]

Heli, what insurance company did u use?

RACV: about $900 pa, fully comp :)

[Jac001]

i would have thought Holden would jump on this story and offer holden assist on all models, and as a standard feature on the higher models etc

[kazido]

Heli, is the $900 premium before or after discount for having Holden Assist?
No RACV in Canberra :(

[SS_Fury]

i have to ask...Kazido is that ur misses in that Avatar?...or would u like it to be? :D

[stockholm]

Dammit that Quiktrak thing only covers sydney, melb, and brisbane. Heinous. Anyone know if there's something similar available for adelaide???

[kazido]

i have to ask...Kazido is that ur misses in that Avatar?...or would u like it to be? :D
Haha...na, my missus is better lookin than that! This ones just the mistress :lol:

Actually this chick is from ebay, ryzz posted a link to it. Im a sucker for a pretty face :) i downloaded them tonight and used one for my avatar to get some attention...probably from the mods :bash: :D

[kazido]

Dammit that Quiktrak thing only covers sydney, melb, and brisbane. Heinous. Anyone know if there's something similar available for adelaide???
Yeh I know, canberra always misses out aswell :(

[pah]

eerrr WTF? Whats a Holden assist or GPS (or this thread) got to do with Faraday cages. You lost me on that one Pah :)


Sorry VooDoo,

The cryptic point is that thieves who know how to place a stolen car into a Faraday Cage may well prevent GPS or GSM signals back to the alarm base. It may not be much value to them if the Faraday Cage is static but it may help if it is mobile.

Qiktrak might not cover all of Australia. Isn't there another Co. using GPS technology? Perhaps one of the insurance Co's?




PAH

[Heli]

Heli, is the $900 premium before or after discount for having Holden Assist?
No RACV in Canberra :(


That's what I pay, the inference from RACV was that the reduction in premium cost (cf the WHII's premium) was due to the safer features on the WK, eg Holden Assist. No doubt the DNA DataDots also help, but they were introduced on the WHII, so shouldn't have been a factor.

RACV are also cheapest on the block for my Boxster S, yet more expensive for my Prado. Go figure :rolleyes:

[Ryzz]

yet more expensive for my Prado. Go figure :rolleyes:
Thats probably because the ticked the "Soccer Mum" box when you mentioned a 4WD :lol:

[VTSS_WA]

Well my good old flood light managed to deter a couple of thieves last night :D

I just happened to be awake at 3am this morning, which was lucky cos they had just opened a window and were no doubt coming in for my keys :mad:

[Heli]

Thats probably because the ticked the "Soccer Mum" box when you mentioned a 4WD :lol:

Good job they didn't tick the "use to tow Jet fuel" box, then :p ;)

[anon]

Any Melburnians might remember a similar thing happening here a couple of years ago which made the news... A thief drove off in a VY Calais from the valet parking at Crown Casino.. He was tracked via Holden Assist, and after a brief police pursuit the engine was immobilised and he was apprehended. The funny thing about it was the way the cops belted the sh*t out of him when they pulled him out of the car. :lol:

that was a Holden company car too

[anon]

I remember that...

On another issue, Holden discontinued Holden Assist because of lack of interest, but they NEVER advertised what it was. Good guys in the advertising dept @ Holden :bash:


still avaliable on caprice/grange

[OPM]

G'Day everyone first post, been following the sat tracking with interest after having new car stolen earlier this year, little pricks broke in and stole the keys!
Just bought the missus a new car and had sat tracking system by TLC fitted and seems to be the goods. Cost approx. $2,500 fitted and annual renewal of around $280 (need to confrim $).
3 button control panel hidden out of view under the dash and small microphone mounted above the sun visor is all you see.
Service includes sat tracking so if they suspect the car is being used without authorisation or you contact them because your car is missing they phone through to the vehicle and request the person identify themselves. If they can't they track the vehicle and contact the police with the vehicles location. Once the police have them in sight the vehicle is immobilised and one thief caught.
Other features include automatic locking of vehicle i.e sitting in restaurant and forgot whether locked car ;phone up and ask them to lock it remotely. Also navigation/directions to the nearest ATM or whatever - push dial button under dash and phone through on the hands free. Accident tracking, and a number of other features.
Advantage with this is because it runs from the satellite can get better coverage for tracking than mobile range.
Fortunately I have not had to use it yet, but may be worth a look if you are interested in protecting your pride and joy - for me it is once bitten...

[NinetySix]

it still has to communicate through the GSM network tho, so if theres no phone signal then they cant track it? the satellite doesnt track the car, the car just sends GPS co-ordinates to the tracking company

[VooDoo]

it still has to communicate through the GSM network tho, so if theres no phone signal then they cant track it? the satellite doesnt track the car, the car just sends GPS co-ordinates to the tracking company


The car is always being tracked via GPS but it cant recieve and send SMS's if out of range. If it goes out of range it will still track where it has been and send as soon as its back in coverage

[CarlFST60L]

While i think trackings great for those of us willing to pay on going fee's and fork out thousands of dollars, personally, there are australian standard car alarms for a reason (AS/NZ3749.1 2003 Class A is the best), and, if your worried about the high jack, or stolen keys, get SMS car alarm, SMS STOP to your car, and it stops ;) GPS tracking requires the GSM/GPRS network so they both have the same coverage, (there are also ways to locate a sim card)... As for quik track, Marc and the boys have a good system, its specialised, works well, but still dosnt have the coverage of GSM, but yes, a GSM/GPRS Jamming device wont affect it...

To date, no car to Rhino's knowledge has been stolen with a RAM (GSM version car alarm) or JAG (full standards approved alarm)... To my knowledge, no 3749 Class A system has been sucessfully stolen... and they wouldnt want to, it cost companies tens of thousands of dollars to get those standards.

Odds arnt to bad with the old SMS or Standards approved alarm :cheers: Would prefer they didnt have to locate me car, shouldnt have left where it was :rolleyes:

Trackings good for fleet, cheating wifes, work vehicles (watching laps of eastern creek in the work car :lol: ) and commercial imho.

[korrupt]

SMS STOP

You mean you just sms the word 'STOP' to the car system and it will immobilise the car? What is required to reset it after that happens? Does that system have some sort of tracking so you know where the car is when it stops?

Sounds interesting although I suppose it doesn't help much if the theives put it on a tray truck and take it...

[V-Car]

Holden should still be offerring this as an option on all models.

I agree...its offered on almost every GM vehicle in the US, including GTO (Onstar) for alot less than the $1000 full RRP and all sevices except information/convenience/direction for $199 per year.
Dont know why it was so hard for Holden to install it in Australia though...i remember the hassle some people had on here with Holden saying it was too hard for them to get it to work on some vehicles.
Even Toyota Australia offer it on some Camry models here as Toyota Link.
http://www.toyota.com.au/toyotalink

[lablube]

You have to be very carefull with the STOP command, in fact, you may not be insured if you do this as this will cause the car to shutdown, now, if this happens the car looses steering, brakes etc and could cause a more serious accident. Thats why the monitoring centre contact the police who then determine when it is safe to shut down.

[VooDoo]

HOLY THREAD MINING BATMAN...

LOL

btw, if the car is already stolen using the stop command wont matter. Its not like the owner is going to request the command when he is in control of the car. End users dont have the access to stop the car, only holden.