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By Greg Bartlett

Industries often have large, expensive items that can’t be stored inside where they’d be protected by a security system. These items still need to be protected against theft, especially since in recent years theft of objects from constructions sites, of ATMs, and of other large and expensive equipment has increased.

Vehicle tracking systems can provide a way to protect larger objects from being stolen. For instance, forklifts, tractors, bobcats, and other pieces of expensive equipment are often stolen from construction sites. Some construction companies have resorted to GPS tracking to recover their stolen machinery and save them thousands of dollars.

One construction company in North Carolina tried new ways of protecting its property when it noticed that each piece of equipment cost thousands of dollars and only ten percent of stolen equipment was recovered. When they installed GPS systems in their equipment, they were able to locate and recover most of the equipment stolen after that. In fact, the cost of the GPS systems, about $1,000, more than paid for itself by recovering equipment worth more than $50,000 in the first few months of use.

Construction companies are not the only ones to face difficulties with the increasing rates of theft. Banks now face more individuals who attempt to steal from ATMs, or, if they can’t get inside the ATM on the spot, to steal the whole machine and try to get into it later.

In Atlanta, GPS systems recently helped in the recovery of a stolen ATM, forklift, and truck. A group of thieves stole a forklift and then used it to steal an ATM. After loading the ATM onto the stolen truck, they drove off and attempted to break into the ATM. They weren’t able to, partially because the police were almost instantly able to follow the GPS device in the ATM to recover the ATM before any money was taken. The owner of the truck got his vehicle back, the construction company recovered its forklift, and the bank didn’t lose any of the money inside the ATM.

During these difficult economic times, the theft of expensive equipment or tools, whether it be a tractor, forklift, or ATM, can cause serious damage to a business. The businesses are sometimes forced to pass on those expenses to customers, hurting everyone involved. But with GPS systems, companies can recover stolen items, protect expensive equipment, and save thousands of dollars.