Police recovered a hijacked car thanks to its on-board Vauxhall computer technology.
James Watson had parked his brand new Vauxhall Astra outside his workplace in Glasgow city centre when the carjacker forced him out of the vehicle and drove away.
He reported the theft to the police and told them the Astra was equipped with Vauxhall OnStar, on-board Vauxhall computer technology which includes a GPS locator to help recover the vehicle in the event of theft.
Working with the OnStar team, the police found the car at a petrol station four miles away and apprehended the offender less than 30 minutes later.
The on-board Vauxhall computer technology shut down engine
OnStar’s stolen vehicle assistance feature also allowed the operator to remotely deactivate the ignition when the thief turned off the engine, giving the police the opportunity to recover the vehicle undamaged.
James explained: “It was a terrible experience, one I wouldn’t wish on anybody else.
“After the initial shock of what happened subsided, I realised that we could locate the car – and probably the offender – through OnStar.
“I’m really grateful that the technology was in place to recover the vehicle so quickly, helping me to get back on the road knowing the thief had been caught.”
Mike Lee of OnStar Strategy and Planning said: “This was a horrible experience for James and we are sorry to hear that he was a victim of crime.
“We are relieved that the technology in the car could assist the police in recovering his car and apprehending this criminal.”
The carjacker was jailed and disqualified from driving.
The on-board Vauxhall computer technology ‘not just a tracker’
The OnStar on-board Vauxhall computer technology is available across the entire Vauxhall range, and includes a number of safety and convenience functions to support drivers.
In addition to stolen vehicle assist, features include automatic crash response, destination download, 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, smartphone connectivity and vehicle diagnostics.
Did you know you could save money if you install an alarm and tracking system in your car? Find out how much less you could pay with Adrian Flux.
You May Also Like …
Vauxhall celebrates rich heritage with 115 years of classic cars