Anti-theft device for a motor vehicle

A device for blocking the operation of a motor vehicle comprising:

• a mechanical lock (5) movable between a blocking position engaging a shifting device (2) of a transmission in the motor vehicle for blocking a shifting operation and a unblocking position in which the lock is disengaged from the shifting device (2) for allowing a shifting operation,
• an actuating means for moving the mechanical lock (5), said actuating means comprising a coupling device (9), an actuating part (1) and a lifting magnet (4),
• a coded transponder (7), and
• a reading device (8) for reading a code of the transponder (7), the lifting magnet (4) is controlled by electrical signals and moves the mechanical lock (5) between a first position and a second position,
• the actuating part (1) adapted to be movable by external influence is coupled to the mechanical lock (5) by the coupling device (9) when the lifting magnet moves the lock into the first position and the actuating part is decoupled from the mechanical lock when the lifting magnet moves the lock into the second position,
• wherein the electrical signals controlling the lifting magnet (4) are triggered after the code of the transponder (7) has been identified by the reading device (8).