Japanese vehicle maker Toyota has come up with an ingenious plan to deal with the rise in thieves stealing cars.
The firm has patented the design for a fragrance dispense that - when the vehicle is broken into - can turn into an anti-theft device. It can detect when the vehicle has been accessed by a criminal. And when it it releases a toxic spray of tear gas into the cabin to immobilise the thief.
The feature was discovered by Australian website WhichCar.
The patent was issued by the Japanese car brand in August 2018 and was recently published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The system is a new mode of anti-theft device designed to tackle vehicle crime, which has increased in recent years due to a spate of keyless thefts using remote technology to access vehicles.
According to the patent drawings revealed, the feature operates as a conventional fragrance system under normal operation.
The system can identify when the vehicle owner is approaching the car by their smartphone and spritzes the interior with perfume before they enter and begin their journey. Sounds pleasant enough, right?
However, if an 'illegitimate engine start' is identified the system turns nasty and gives a would-be thief a face-full of tear gas to deter them from taking the car.
It does this by triggering the immobiliser which can only be deactivated by having the vehicle's key in close proximity.
If the key isn't with the occupant inside the car and no signal can be located, the dispenser releases the potent spray.
However, if an 'illegitimate engine start' is identified the system turns nasty and gives a would-be thief a face-full of tear gas to deter them from taking the car.
It does this by triggering the immobiliser which can only be deactivated by having the vehicle's key in close proximity.
If the key isn't with the occupant inside the car and no signal can be located, the dispenser releases the potent spray.
- Daily Mail