Abstract: An anti-theft device that is adapted to be connected adjacent to or on a battery of a motor vehicle and including a power switch for disconnecting the battery from its standard battery cable when current flowing through the cable exceeds a preselected substantial amount of current associated with an attempt to start the vehicle. A lockout circuit is actuated by a remote transmitter for generating an external command signal to override the operation ofthe power switch. This device can be attached directly to a battery without external wiring and still provide the passive or self-arming anti-theft device.