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By Greg Bartlett

GPS trackers have long aided law enforcement in keeping tabs on convicted criminals allowed back into society. Many offenders have made reforms and simply need a little extra accountability for the duration of their parole. Others require the close supervision afforded by their GPS tracker. Thankfully, advanced technology combined with a little discernment can allow police to find and punish those repeat offenders who violate the conditions of their parole.

GPS & Auto Theft

Take the case of two teenage suspects connected with literally dozens of car thefts in Winnipeg. On Monday, the unidentified 17-year-old and 19-year-old stole at least two cars and broke into at least two homes while wearing GPS trackers given to them by their parole officers. When the thefts were reported, police tracked the teenagers to a downtown area and tried to arrest them. Of course, the suspects fled, and since the police had the GPS tracking data and didn’t want to endanger the public in an unnecessary pursuit, authorities called off the chase and arrested the kids later. One small collision between the stolen SUV and another vehicle happened just before the arrest, but more would likely have occurred if the police hadn’t been able to rely on the GPS trackers.

These two offenders have been convicted and charged for a number of offenses, yet authorities deemed them safe enough to be let back into society. Though this decision may seem wrong in hindsight, the GPS trackers allowed police to correct the problem in as safe a manner as possible. With this incident and hundreds of thousands of dollars in lawsuits brought by affected auto insurance companies, it’s unlikely that the offenders will be given the opportunity to recklessly endanger the lives of others soon.

GPS trackers represent a host of benefits to law enforcement personnel. The technology allows authorities to follow offenders at a safe distance, minimizing the need for unnecessarily dangerous arrests. GPS trackers also reduce the costs in time and manpower, as well as serve as an excellent prevention measure. Preliminary statistics show a 19% reduction in auto thefts across the United States in 2009, and while this development may be due to a number of factors, good security habits and careful implementation of new technology are certainly important. To the public and law enforcement, GPS trackers provide as good a solution as any against car theft in both prevention and correction.