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By Greg Bartlett

With 1,095,769 cars stolen in 2007, a vehicle is stolen every 28.8 seconds in the United States, costing people around $7.4 billion in losses. Many of these vehicles are never found again, and because of the money involved, automobile thieves will typically continue to steal vehicles until they are stopped.

Protecting your vehicle from auto theft involves parking in lighted areas, locking your car, and hiding valuables when you leave your vehicle.

But GPS tracking can provide added security and can help you recover your vehicle if it is stolen.

One GPS tracking company reports that it recovers around 90% of stolen vehicles equipped with their GPS devices, usually within about 24 hours. They have helped to recover billions of dollars’ worth of vehicles through their GPS system. Since GPS can locate and track a vehicle in the event it is stolen, most GPS companies can provide similar services to help protect your vehicle.

In California a couple weeks ago, a vehicle equipped with GPS tracking was stolen and the owner started tracking it as soon as he realized it was missing. His tracking information showed where the vehicle had been taken, and it also recorded a stop the truck had made, where its cargo was unloaded. When police investigated, they were not only able to recover the man’s stolen truck, but also to uncover and end a large theft ring. GPS vehicle tracking was important in the quick return of the vehicle rather than the weeks it might have taken to find it – if it had been found at all.

Another company reported a similar event, where a GPS device in Kansas helped police track down and recover a truck hours after it was stolen. The company has helped to recover around 40,000 vehicles through its GPS devices, which can be activated in the event of an auto theft so that it slows the car down to just a few miles an hour, making it practically impossible to escape with the vehicle.

GPS devices have become a popular way to help protect vehicles and prevent theft. Most devices can be used to send an alert for help if an emergency arises, and many can also turn off or partially disable your car if it is stolen. Furthermore, since GPS tracking knows exactly where your vehicle is and can monitor its every movement, finding your car if it is stolen will be quick and easy.