BMW remotely locks a car with an alleged thief inside

Last week, an alleged thief’s getaway car turned into his own jail. It happened in Seattle when BMW staff tracked and remotely locked the vehicle, said the police.

The owner of the car, a newlywed bribe who tied the knot just the day before lent it to her friend. Her friend parked the BMW in the owner’s compound at night but forgot to lock it and left the key fob inside, reports The Washington Post quoting Seattle.gov.

The suspect was prowling with friends when he found an unlocked car, took it for a ride and pulled it over for a nap. Its owner, when awoke, found her car missing and reported it to the police. They contacted BMW’s roadside assistance to locate the vehicle.

BMW staff located the car and locked it remotely trapping the alleged thief in it. The officers arrested him, and booked the culprit for auto theft and drug possession. This was done because of the small amount of methamphetamine the police found on him.

It is unclear how BMW managed to create a temporary jail. But it is assumed that they did it through the car’s optional security mechanism. In an email to CNET, BMW informed it that the company can remotely lock its cars. Seattle Police Department too confirmed the news. They even sent it a copy of its report in the matter. In the report, the responding officer confirmed that they had requested help from BMW to locate the car and lock it remotely. The company did so, they added.

Almost all auto manufacturers offer remote tracking and locking mechanism in their vehicles. They even encourage consumers to install the mechanism for added safety. If a vehicle gets stolen, the manufacturer can track its location and help law enforcement agencies.