Status: published
Vehicle theft has become a significant security concern due to the rapid growth in the number of personal and commercial vehicles worldwide. Conventional anti-theft mechanisms such as mechanical locks and basic alarm systems are often inadequate against modern theft techniques. This paper presents the design and implementation of a smart vehicle theft detection and alert system using embedded and communication technologies. The proposed system employs motion and vibration sensors to detect unauthorized vehicle movement or tampering. Upon detection of suspicious activity, the system immediately activates an audible alarm and triggers a notification mechanism to alert the vehicle owner. A microcontroller acts as the central processing unit, coordinating sensor data acquisition, decision-making, and control actions. Optional integration of GSM and GPS modules enables real-time location tracking and remote alert delivery via short message service (SMS). The system is designed to be cost-effective, reliable, and easy to install, making it suitable for two-wheelers and four-wheelers alike. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed solution effectively detects theft attempts with minimal false alarms and provides timely alerts, thereby enhancing overall vehicle security. This work highlights the potential of embedded systems and IoT-based approaches in developing practical and scalable vehicle security solutions.
Keywords: Vehicle Theft Detection, Embedded Systems, Internet of Things (IoT), Motion Sensor, Vibration Sensor, Microcontroller, GSM Module, GPS Tracking, Real-Time Alert, Vehicle Security System