Arm Group director Henry Wolfkamp with Bill D’Oliveira from Steelsafe Truck Immobilizer standing in front of a truck and trailer supplied by Chris D’Oliveira. Picture: Meagan Rogers.
By Sarah Schwager
A LOCAL invention aims to bring the thefts of trucks and truck trailers to a halt.
Cannons Creek resident Bill D’Oliveira and his son-in-law Barry Bryar are marketing a stainless steel box, which will locate a stolen trailer and force its brakes.
The Steelsafe Truck Immobilizer was invented by Mr Bryar and works by using a global positioning system (GPS) to locate the vehicle, which can then be shut down by sending a signal that triggers the release of air from the brakes.
After slowly coming to a stop over three minutes, the truck cannot be moved at all.
Mr D’Oliveira said the invention would completely curb truck and trailer thefts if installed.
The product has already been marketed and proved successful in America and Canada, where the cost of stolen trucks and trailers amounts to more than $1 billion a year.
Locally, the theft of truck trailers is also picking up.
Just two weeks ago, a triple axle trailer was stolen from a Lyndhurst service station.
It was parked in the car park of the BP service station on the corner of the Western Port Highway and Thompsons Road and held two 20-foot shipping containers, one containing alcoholic spirits and the other furniture.
Police are still searching for the trailer or anyone with information about the theft.
The Steelsafe Truck Immobilizer is being manufactured at a factory in Dandenong, which can supply up to 500 units a week.
Mr Bryar said for anything greater the men would need their own factory.
The unit is backed by National Transport Insurance (NTI).
The Immobilizer is available for $39 a week and retails for between $5000 and $7000 fitted.
For more information call 1300 IMMOBILIZER.
