Method for locking and releasing a securing device of a vehicle coupling, theft prevention system, and vehicle

A method for locking and releasing a securing device (1) of a vehicle coupling (2) of a vehicle (3), comprising the steps of:

• switching the securing device (1) between a locked state and a released state by a control command (5) output by an authorization unit (4), wherein the authorization unit (4) outputs the control command (5) after the authorization unit (4) has received an initiation command (6) which was transmitted to the authorization unit (4) by an interface and wherein a wireless communication interface (7) and a local physical interface (8) are useable as the interface;
• transmitting sensor data (15), generated by at least one sensor (9) of sensors (9) that monitor surroundings of the vehicle (3), via the wireless communication interface (7) to a control center (10);
• and
• transmitting the initiation command (6) to the vehicle (3) by the control center (10) via the wireless communication interface (7) as a function of the sensor data (15);
• wherein the vehicle (3) is controllable autonomously and wherein at least one camera and one microphone are used as the sensors (9);
• wherein when there is no communication connection between the control center (10) and the vehicle (3), it is only possible to output the initiation command (6) by way of the local physical interface (8).