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GM's OnStar Helps Police Locate, Recover Stolen Vehicles
In-Vehicle Service Continues to Prove its Value to Subscribers and Law
Enforcement
DETROIT, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 it's moving.
"OnStar works with law enforcement agencies across the country to locate and
help subscribers recover their stolen vehicles," said Cathy McCormick, OnStar's
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 OnStar's
assistance, the vehicle was located in Sharonville, Ohio, where authorities
apprehended the suspect who, as it turned out, was one of the FBI's 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 owner's vehicle back before it's 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, GM's 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, available on more than 50 models from General Motors and select models
from six other auto manufacturers, is the nation's leading provider of
in-vehicle safety, security and communications services using the Global
Positioning System (GPS) satellite network and wireless technology. OnStar
services include automatic notification of air bag deployment, stolen vehicle
location assistance, emergency services, roadside assistance with location,
remote door unlock, GM Goodwrench remote vehicle diagnostics, route support and
convenience services. OnStar Personal Calling allows drivers to make and
receive hands-free, voice-activated phone calls through a nationwide cellular
network and access a wide range of other information services. More
information about OnStar can be found at http://www.onstar.com/ .
DATASOURCE: OnStar
CONTACT: Robert Herta of OnStar, +1-313-665-2790,
Web site: http://media.gm.com/
http://www.gm.com/
http://www.onstar.com/