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By Greg Bartlett

Vehicle theft always causes distress and fear for the owner of the stolen car, and savvy car owners are beginning to realize the value that a GPS tracking device can offer by keeping them apprised of the whereabouts of their vehicle at all times. The stakes are raised, however, when the situation evolves from simple car theft into carjacking. With carjacking, the stolen vehicle is occupied, and the perpetrator often becomes violent. Thieves who resort to carjacking usually do so in the heat of the moment because they are fleeing the scene of a crime or because they know they won’t have to damage the car in the process. They can get away with the vehicle intact and with the keys in their possession.

Carjacking & GPS

The advent of GPS tracking, however, has put the brakes on carjackings across the nation. More and more would-be thieves have begun to realize that the possibility of being caught in possession of a stolen vehicle increases exponentially when a GPS tracking device has been installed. With no way of knowing which cars are equipped and which are not, many car thieves would rather not take the risk.

A GPS tracking device allows owners to keep tabs on their vehicles remotely at any time. The transmitter sends a signal at specified intervals to a receiving device or home computer. The owner can log on at any time and in the event of a car theft, can see exactly where the car is and in what direction it is moving. In the case of carjackings, police can immediately locate the vehicle and dispatch an officer to begin recovery procedures. The standard advice for victims of carjackings has been to cooperate with the criminal in the hopes of escaping unscathed, even if he gets the vehicle. Many car owners are reluctant to do so, however, in light of the expense of purchasing a new vehicle. The cost becomes less of a deterrent, however, when owners know the car is protected with a GPS tracking device. Recovery rates for GPS equipped vehicles are significantly higher than those for cars without.

Carjackings are terrifying experiences for victims, but with a GPS tracking device installed in the car, they will be less likely to try and save the car and can focus on escaping without harm. Knowledge of the existence of GPS technology can deter some would-be criminals and allow police officers to apprehend more thieves to protect our communities.