New on the shelves

Steering lock from Halfords, plus decontamination spray

Halfords Fingerprint T-Bar Steering Lock

“There are no keys to fiddle with, and no keyhole to pick should thieves get into the car”

Price: £59.99

Contact: www.halfords.com

HALFORDS reckons it has a world first on its hands in the fight against the keyless theft of cars with the launch of a steering lock activated by a fingerprint.

Put your finger over its sensor, and the Fingerprint T-Bar, which is clamped on to the steering wheel and rests on the dashboard, unlocks. There are no keys to fiddle with, and no keyhole to pick if thieves get in the car.

Up to 20 fingerprints can be stored for cars with multiple users, and the package includes a 1.2-metre charging cable that works off a USB socket, allowing the device to be recharged by the car or a power bank. Halfords says a full charge can take almost two hours to achieve, but that should last six months before it needs topping up again. The lock also comes with an emergency USB key in case the device runs out of power or the fingerprint doesn’t work.

The sensor includes indicator lights to show the charge state, and it allows users to record or delete fingerprints. Its silver colour is designed to make it easily seen by thieves, while the shaft has a soft cover to avoid marking the dash. There’s also a foam lining inside the head to prevent any damage to the steering wheel.

The Fingerprint T-Bar costs £59.99, although at the time of writing it was discounted to £35.99.