VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:

UPSOUND Detroit police Officer Ibrahim Kakish speaks with a Ford Secure representative responsible for tracking stolen vehicles

CAR THIEVES ARE ALWAYS INNOVATING.

SOUNDBITE (English) Officer Ibrahim Kakish, Detroit police:

“It’s evolving every single day.”

WHICH MEANS POLICE NEED TO UP THEIR GAME.

ONE WAY THEY’RE DOING THAT IS WITH A TECHNICAL ASSIST FROM THE CARMAKERS THEMSELVES.

SOUNDBITE (English) Officer Ibrahim Kakish, Detroit police:

“A lot of these companies are doing a really good job with the technology in these vehicles. And we’re finding these vehicles a lot quicker than what we used to.”

FORD HAS ADDED A “START INHIBIT” FEATURE THAT ALLOWS OWNERS TO DISABLE A PICKUP’S ENGINE USING A SMARTPHONE APP, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR A THIEF TO START THE TRUCK.

THE AUTOMAKER ALSO PROVIDES COORDINATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ONCE THE VEHICLE IS STOLEN.

UPSOUND The Ford Secure rep asks Kakish for his badge number

SOUNDBITE (English) Christian Moran, Ford Secure:

“We want to work directly with them to make sure that the information that we’re providing is reliable, up to date, so that they can have better chances of success in recovering the vehicle.”

FORD RECENTLY PROVIDED A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW START INHIBIT CAN HELP TRACK AND SHUT DOWN ONE OF ITS POPULAR F-150S.

SOUNDBITE (English) Christian Moran, Ford Secure:

“Thieves do like to go after pickup trucks. They also like to go after the contents that are often in pickup trucks.”

850-THOUSAND VEHICLES WERE STOLEN IN THE U-S LAST YEAR, AT A COST OF EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS.

SOUNDBITE (English) Christian Moran, Ford Secure:

“The reality of the situation is there’s going to be a constant tension. As we improve the security products, the thieves are going to come up with more and more sophisticated methods to attack.”

OFFICERS ON THE FRONT LINES ARE HOPING THEIR TECH CONTINUES TO OUTPACE THE BAD GUYS’.

SOUNDBITE (English) Officer Ibrahim Kakish, Detroit police:

“If it wasn’t for technology, we would have a hard time doing our job. So, we definitely look at technology as definitely an asset in the recoveries as well as the arresting of the individuals that are involved in the stealing of the vehicles.”