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By Greg Bartlett

In 2007, more than two million burglaries were reported, more than six million items were stolen, and more than one million auto thefts occurred. Generally speaking, rates have been rising for years. And, like most people, you don’t want to be one of the statistics. You don’t want your dream car that you just purchased to be stolen, you don’t want your kid’s DVD player to disappear while you’re on vacation, you don’t want your beloved pet to be stolen, and you don’t want someone else to obtain through theft the things you’ve worked hard to earn.

GPS tracking devices can help reduce theft. Whether it sends a warning beforehand or helps law enforcement monitor an item than has been stolen, GPS devices have reduced theft and increased the identification of thieves and returning of items to owners.

For instance, a pair of thieves in Florida recently broke into a house and stole some jewelry and electronic equipment. One of the items they stole was a cell phone which had a GPS device inside. It was easy for the police to locate the cell phone, discover and arrest the burglars, and return the stolen property to the owners.

Laptops and cars are routinely recovered because GPS tracking devices were installed. According to one study, a laptop is stolen approximately every 12 seconds. Those that have GPS devices installed, however, are often recovered. Cars with GPS tracking devices can lead the police straight to the automobile and help you get your car back. GPS tracking in cars can also prevent further theft if the culprit is caught with the stolen vehicle and arrested.

Or maybe you’re concerned about another disturbing trend – stealing pets, particularly dogs. Because of their value, expensive breeds of dogs are sometimes snatched from their yards or stolen during a burglary. Smaller and more unusual breeds are especially vulnerable to being stolen. Besides taking basic precautions such as not leaving your dog unattended outside or putting a microchip in your pet, using a GPS device in your pet’s collar allows you to know instantly if the pet strays or is removed from a specified area.

No matter what it is you want to protect – your electronic equipment, your vehicle, your dog – GPS tracking devices can provide you with the security you need to protect yourself from being just another theft victim statistic.