Once a thief enters the car, a signal is sent to the Police Department, which can then monitor the criminal via a tracking device and three video cameras inside the car. When the thief drives away, officers can lock the car, shut down the engine and set off its alarm.

“We warn everybody: If you steal a car, it may belong to the San Diego Police Department,” Police Chief William Lansdowne said during a news conference Thursday in front of police headquarters.

THE INTRODUCTION to Ireland of new technologies that can slash greenhouse emissions is being hampered because ubiquitous high-speed broadband is not available, Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan was told yesterday.

Cisco, one of the world’s leading network companies, is rolling out its “connected urban development” in five cities including San Francisco, Seoul, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Madrid, Birmingham and Hamburg.

The current automotive sales slump is impacting nearly all automakers around the world. While outstanding pricing and financing options provide a strong incentive, according to David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), the technology-based features from safety, comfort and convenience, infotainment and, of course, performance, frequently help the consumer decide to purchase one vehicle over another. Thanks to input from several automotive suppliers, Design News has created a technology stimulus package of goodies that could bring car buyers back to showroom floors. Some of these are still in the concept stage.