Sensing and controlling states of locking mechanisms

A vehicle theft-prevention device, comprising:

• at least one computing device configured to determine an intrusion into a vehicle based at least in part on at least one sensor measurement;
• a locking mechanism comprising an engagement component, the engagement component configured to disable the locking mechanism;
• a force-limiting mechanism configured to limit a locking force of the locking mechanism;
• a sensing mechanism coupled to the engagement component, wherein the sensing mechanism is configured to:
• determine that the force-limiting mechanism has limited the locking force of the locking mechanism;
• and
• in response to the force-limiting mechanism limiting the locking force, cause the engagement component to disable the locking mechanism,
• a first portion comprising a plurality of retractable protrusions positioned at a predetermined radius from a center of the first portion, each of the plurality of retractable protrusions comprises a respective spring and a respective spherical ball;
• and
• a second portion comprising a plurality of inclined planes positioned at the predetermined radius from a center of the second portion.

A method of affixing a device, comprising:

• rotating a first portion of the device relative to a second portion of the device in a particular direction to transition a locking mechanism from an unlocked state to a locked state;
• limiting, via a force-limiting mechanism, a locking force to rotate the first portion relative to the second portion when the locking force exceeds a predefined threshold;
• determining, via a sensing mechanism comprising two substantially parallel protrusions extending from the first portion toward the second portion, that the force-limiting mechanism limited the locking force;
• applying, via the two substantially parallel protrusions, a spring loaded force on the second portion;
• causing, via the sensing mechanism, an engagement component to disable the locking mechanism in response to determining that the force-limiting mechanism limited the locking force;
• and
• rotating the first portion of the device relative to the second portion of the device further comprises causing the two substantially parallel protrusions to rotate about a conductive ring of the second portion such that a conductive surface of one of the two substantially parallel protrusions contacts the conductive ring and a second conductive surface of another one of the two substantially parallel protrusions contacts one of a plurality of conductors spaced radially around the conductive ring, wherein the plurality of conductors are conductively connected to the conductive ring.