TRADE VEHICLE LOCKS LIMITED Information

Trade Vehicle Locks Ltd [TVL] is the UK's Premier Supplier of designer vehicle security products. Based in Grays, Essex, TVL is the UK specialist for commercial and retail vehicle security. Thieves have discovered a new way to steal your vehicle by overriding the manufacturer’s immobilisation system by connecting a Laptop / PDA / EDI Key into the OBD Socket and programming a new key into the ECU. This is a relatively new theft method employed by Organised Criminal Gangs (OCG’s) to steal, in particular, high value vehicles Since September 2009, each new vehicle has to have an On Board Diagnostics or OBD Port. OCG’s have discovered a means of stealing vehicles by ‘hacking’ into the OBD Port using equipment readily available on-line. Thieves can get into the car by decoding and hacking the door lock or by breaking the window in a way that doesn’t set off the ultrasonic alarm sensor (they attach cling film or cellotape to the window to prevent breaking glass triggering the ultrasonics). Then they attach a ‘reader’ (readily available on-line), laptop or PDA into the OBD port whereby they can disable the immobiliser and copy key information into blank keys. Via Google you can buy blank ‘On-Board Programmable Keys’ or ‘Cloneable Transponder Keys’ The patented, Sold Secure Tested, SMMT recommended, Ford Motor Company endorsed and Thatcham accredited, TVL OBD Port Protector is a high-spec ‘safe’ that encloses the OBD Port connector in a secure box. No wires are cut so there is no effect on Warranty and it can only be unlocked using a TVL ‘secure-MY-code’ Registered Key which is registered to the owner. The only time the OBD Port Protector needs to be opened is at vehicle service or in an emergency situation. Euro legislation also states that by 2015, all Plant and Machinery engines and Motorcycles must also have an OBD Port – another smorgasbord for the OCG’s…………….