Here's a new spin on using GPS to hinder auto theft. A Japanese company called Web System has developed a device that notifies owners when their autos have gone AWOL, and the owners can use a mobile phone to stop thieves from starting the engine.
The 5 x 5 x 10cm device, which is connected to the vehicle's starter, can be activated from up to 10km away. When an auto moves out of its control area, it emails a message to the registered user, who can locate their car through a map on the Internet.
This story reminds us of something from years back with Omron. But the Web System looks as if it's aimed at the theft of small construction equipment, which in Japan is commonly used to smash ATM booths during robberies.
