A new sensor, which can detect ‘the heartbeat’ of a carjacker, will be hailed as a major breakthrough in combating a frightening form of car crime – the British Insurance Car Security Awards will be told (on Wednesday June 20th).

Volvo’s new Personal Car Communicator alert a driver returning to their car – that someone is hiding in the vehicle.

It is virtually impossible for new cars to be driven away without the key thanks to manufacturers incorporating hi-tech theft proof components in vehicle design.

And there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that car criminals are striving to find new ways to make off with a vehicle.

The new innovations unveiled at the Berkshire research centre are aimed at tackling new forms of car crime – even before they become a major problem.

The PCC, which sends a signal to the driver’s key fob, will receive the BICSA Award For Innovation at the ceremony.

Volvo and Citroën both pick up awards for Innovation.

Volvo Managing Director Stuart Kerr, said: "Personal security is one of the cornerstones of the Volvo safety profile and we are delighted that the Personal Car Communicator has been recognised as an important technology to help further reduce vehicle crime."

The Citroën OEM system combines both overt and covert marking which allows rapid vehicle identification to law enforcement agencies, without the need for a third party service provider.

This ensures robust information for the police to act upon and is completely reliable if used as evidence in court.

“Manufacturers are continuing to keep ahead of the criminal fraternity – committing resources to the development of highly sophisticated systems to keep cars secure,” said Peter Roberts, Thatcham Chief Executive.

“Many car thieves are just having to give up – thanks to the industry’s continued quest to drive down car crime.”

The latest Home Office figures in the British Crime Survey show that car related crime is lower now than at any time during the last 25 years.

It is estimated that in 2005/6 there were more than 1,730,000 vehicle related crimes (thefts of and thefts from vehicles) a fall of 8 per cent on the previous year, compared to a peak of 4,000,000 in 1993.

Xavier Duchemin – MD of Citroën UK Ltd said: “These latest awards emphatically prove that Citroën is offering car buyers some of the most secure vehicles available today.

The fact that the Company has featured prominently amongst the winners every year since the inception of these awards serves as testimony to Citroën’s commitment to class leading car security.

Citroën’s domination of the popular ‘supermini’ and ‘small family car’ categories has contributed to the Company achieving ten BICSA wins in four years, whilst the news that our brand new C4 Picasso has also won in its category serves to further reinforce Citroën’s first class security credentials.”