Remotely activated vehicle anti-theft device

A system for preventing vehicle theft, the system including:

• at least one vehicle which includes a power plant and a drivetrain, the power plant being drivingly connected to the drivetrain in order to propel the vehicle;
• an anti-theft device having an unlocked state, a locked state and a priority locked state, the anti-theft device including:
• a locking member which is mounted adjacent to the drivetrain, downstream of the power plant, and which is movable relative to the drivetrain between:
• an open position, in which the anti-theft device is in its unlocked state, and in which a driveshaft or transmission of the drivetrain is permitted to rotate freely;
• and
• an engaged or locked position in which the locking member prevents displacement of the driveshaft or transmission by locking it in position thus immobilizing the vehicle;
• an actuator which is configured to displace the locking member from one of its open or locked positions to the other;
• an electronic control unit which is communicatively linked to the actuator in order to control actuation of the actuator, the electronic control unit also being configured to receive a motion signal indicative of movement of the vehicle;
• and
• at least one wireless communication module which is communicatively linked to the electronic control unit;
• a first remote control device configured wirelessly to transmit lock/unlock signals to the wireless communication module;
• and
• a second remote control device, separate from the first remote control device, configured wirelessly to communicate with the wireless communication module, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to convey the signals received from the remote control devices to the electronic control unit,
• wherein, when the anti-theft device is not in its priority locked state, the electronic control unit is configured in response to receipt of a lock/unlock signal from the first remote control device to actuate the actuator in order to change the position of the locking member from one of its locked or open positions to the other, provided that the vehicle is not in motion or is moving at a speed which is below a predetermined threshold value;
• and, when the anti-theft device is in its priority locked state, the electronic control unit overrides any signals received from the first remote control device thus negating use of the first remote control device and giving priority to a priority signal received from the second remote control device, and wherein, once the lock signal has been received from one of the remote control devices and the electronic control unit detects that the vehicle's speed is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the anti-theft device is primed to lock, such that, as soon as the vehicle's speed is reduced to below the predetermined threshold value, the electronic control unit automatically actuates the actuator in order to move the locking member into its locked position.