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GPS tracking has gone to work on the side of law enforcement departments in many capacities, from helping chase down drug rings to monitoring paroled criminals. Now, the little devices can also help police nab a bank robber after he has made off with the loot. One bank teller in Lancaster helped prevent the loss of over $1,700 by handing the robber a bag that also included a tracking unit. As police begin to implement such techniques more often, officers hope that bank robbery instances will begin to decline dramatically.

The robbery began as a typical hold-up, with the thief receiving a bag of nearly $2000 in cash. As he made his getaway, however, a GPS device was tracking his every move. Increasingly, banks have begun including the tracking units in bags of cash to prevent losses in cases such as this one.

Smaller than a credit card, the device can be easily concealed, enabling law enforcement officers to determine the exact location of the bag and presumably the suspect along with it within minutes of the incident. In this case, police used portable devices to monitor the suspect’s movements and were led to his home where he was apprehended.

Because GPS tracking units are so versatile, they can be of use to law enforcement in a number of cases which might otherwise require hours, days, or even weeks to resolve. By following the unit to a suspect’s house, officers can eliminate tedious surveillance work, near misses, and other frustrating aspects of chasing down a suspected criminal.

The devices work by sending a signal to a receiving device in real time, providing a breadcrumb trail that police can follow immediately. For more prolonged surveillance needs, they can also view a suspect’s movements over time as a report detailing current location, routes taken, and stops made. Many devices remain dormant until needed and can be activated remotely when necessary.
While bank robberies may no longer progress as they did in the Bonnie and Clyde era, with the suspect running out to a getaway car waiting at the curb, law enforcement no longer needs to rely merely on the techniques of a previous era either. With the help of GPS tracking, they can catch thieves before they have a chance to disappear with the loot, using a pair of eyes that outperforms any other method of surveillance.

Article Written by Lynetta Bowen