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By Greg Bartlett

The addition of GPS tracking devices to vehicles has been going on for several years now. Some are installed at the factory, others are sold as aftermarket products that the owner of the vehicle has to install or have installed professionally. The value of these systems is unquestionable, especially in the case of car theft.

In a recent case in Ormond Beach, Florida, a 23 year old man and a 16 year old were arrested in a stolen BMW. This vehicle was equipped with a GPS tracking device that was factory installed. When the owner realized that his car was stolen, he had to contact BMW and let them tell police where the vehicle was located. A chase ensued that ended when the car was driven off the road and into some woods off the Beach line. Both suspects were taken into custody at that point and the car was recovered for the owner.

This is a case that clearly demonstrates the value of GPS tracking devices as a tool to recover stolen vehicles and arrest the thieves. In this instance, the car had a system that was factory installed, but most do not. Aftermarket systems are available to individuals that can be used to monitor the movements of a vehicle in the event of theft, track the driving habits of teens, and on occasion, record the movements of a spouse suspected of infidelity. With these aftermarket systems, the consumer has the ability to retrieve the data from the GPS tracking device him/herself and notify authorities when necessary without having to go through a third party. This can save a lot of time and money over factory systems that must verify who they are talking to before releasing any information in order to avoid violation of privacy policies.

Even insurance companies have recognized the value of GPS tracking devices to getting more stolen vehicles recovered and more car thieves arrested. This is why many insurance carriers offer their customers some very good discounts on their premiums for car insurance if the car is equipped with a GPS tracking or anti theft device, whether it is factor installed or aftermarket.

GPS technology is here to stay. It has proven itself useful in far too many ways as a method of tracking stolen vehicles, monitoring the movements of individuals, and assisting in navigation when a person gets lost. GPS tracking devices have also saved many lives by broadcasting the exact location of an accident to authorities when the driver of a car involved in an accident is unable to speak. For more information about how you can protect your vehicle, call Rocky Mountain Tracking, Inc at 1-888-242-0500.