Montreal-developed app could stop car thefts with secure kill switch

An app developed by a Montrealer, aims to reduce car thefts by giving smart phone users a kill switch on their device.

Engineer Jean Poulin says thieves who want to drive away with his car better be prepared. 

The 59-year-old Polytechnique graduate invented a kill-switch mechanism installed under the dash that's connected to the owner's smart phone. 

Without a secure access to the IKS Technologies app, thieves can't move the car. 

Even if someone has a copy of a smart key, or clones the signal, it won't start the vehicle.

"If I'm trying to start the car, there's nothing, so I'm unable to start it," said Poulin, demonstrating the device from behind the wheel of his Jeep.

A click on his app quickly allows the key to turn in the ignition. 

If thieves attempt to tow the car, a motion detector will immediately send a signal in real-time to the car owner.