Police use GPS-Equipped ‘Bait Vehicles’ to Combat Theft

By Greg Bartlett

Vehicle thefts are on the rise and law enforcement departments sometimes struggle with the best way to curtail the problem. Cars and motorcycles make likely targets for theft because they are high dollar commodities that can easily be resold. Venues that attract large crowds such as the bike weeks that take place on the east coast each year are breeding grounds for theft rings. Motorcycles can be stolen and dismantled quickly and thieves can sell parts on the black market for a quick profit. However, some law enforcement agencies have chosen to combat the problem by using one of the most effective tools on the market today: GPS tracking.

GPS tracking allows the location of a vehicle or object to be monitored remotely on a computer or other receiving device. The transmitter sends a signal to the receiving device which can be viewed in real time or as a report detailing location at given intervals. Other vital information such as speed and direction of travel or number and length of stops en route can be viewed as well. Officers can know for sure that the vehicle in question is the one that was stolen, rather than a look-alike, and they can follow its whereabouts accurately within a few feet.

In order to break up established theft rings, some police departments have begun using vehicle plants, known as bait vehicles, to attract thieves. These vehicles are generally high dollar options that would appear to be an easy target. By attaching a GPS tracking device to the bait vehicle, police can follow its progress after it is stolen with the hopes that it will lead them to the ringleaders responsible for recent thefts. The web based technology saves the department time, money, and manpower since multiple vehicles can be tracked by one person at a computer rather than by designating someone to tail each theft. Rather than relying on guesswork and a certain amount of luck, departments can gain the upper hand and go into each situation equipped with accurate information.

Law-abiding citizens shouldn’t have to worry about the possibility of theft each time they go to a special event. The GPS tracking used by law enforcement agencies helps make it possible for honest people to enjoy a well-deserved vacation and for police officers to perform their jobs more quickly and accurately than would otherwise be possible.

Tags: Automobile Theft, GPS Tracking