Rocky Mountain Tracking

By Greg Bartlett

You do everything you can to protect your home. You purchase homeowners insurance to provide a safety net in the event of catastrophic loss. You install fire alarms and sprinkler systems to prevent extensive fire damage. Your doors are protected by deadbolts and alarm systems. But what if a thief gets past your preventative measures? All your planning could mean nothing if a thief takes off with your most valuable possessions. You can ensure that thieves don’t get away with their crimes by protecting your assets with a GPS tracking device.

GPS Tracking and Property Protection

When you think about the items in your home, what are the things that would be expensive and difficult to replace? Perhaps it’s your jewelry, your computer, or another treasured possession. You can protect your valuables by placing a GPS tracking device on them. The device will send a signal at specified intervals to your home computer, allowing you to see the item’s location at any time. In the event of theft, you can immediately notify the police department and provide them with the information they need to conduct a quick and effective recovery operation.

Some GPS tracking device models also allow you to see additional information such as speed and direction of travel. If a thief hops in a car with your stolen item, you can follow him as he makes his getaway, providing the police with the ability to send officers exactly to the location of the item.

GPS tracking proves invaluable for owners of laptops and other expensive, portable items. It’s easy for a thief to snag a laptop bag as the owner sits sipping coffee with friends or to take one out of a parked car at the mall. You do all you can to be careful when you’re out and about, but thieves still make off with thousands of dollars in stolen goods each year. If you’ve planned ahead by protecting yourself with a GPS tracking device, however, you can make sure your item is returned to you and that the thief is taken out of circulation.

It’s difficult not to worry about thefts when you hear about them every day on the news. When a GPS tracking device is protecting your valuables, however, you can rest assured that you have done everything in you power not only to prevent theft, but also to aid recovery if a thief does get into your home or car.

By Greg Bartlett

As GPS technology continues to advance, the use of GPS tracking systems becomes more and more commonplace. While this is definitely a good thing, people need to make sure that they are protecting themselves from GPS tracking abuse.

GPS & Caution

Law enforcement officers caution people from putting their home address into their GPS tracking device. This would have been a good warning for a particular family who had items from their vehicle stolen while attending a football game. The thieves took the garage door opener and the dashboard-mounted GPS system.

This system led the thieves right to the home that they knew was empty and the garage door opener gave them immediate access. The thieves were able to steal a television, computers, stereo, jewelry, and other expensive items from the home.

Instead of putting your actual home address into your GPS system, law enforcement officials suggest using an address near your home such as a grocery store, bank, fast food restaurant, or gas station. This will allow the GPS system to give you accurate directions without endangering your home if the GPS tracking system is ever stolen.

Unfortunately, GPS trackers aren’t the only technological items that thieves are abusing. Cell phones are also often targeted by thieves. In one case, a stolen purse contained everything that the thief needed to wipe out a bank account. The purse not only contained credit cards and a bank card, but it also contained the victim’s cell phone. The thief quickly sent a text message to “hubby” asking for the pin number of the bank account. Armed with this information, the thief wiped out the bank account before the woman could even call and notify her husband about what had happened.

Some additional cautions for protecting yourself against this kind of abuse: Use everyone’s real name in your contact list instead of labeling them according to their relationship to you. Also, never give out personal information through text message. Always call the person requesting the information to make sure that it is the rightful owner of the cell phone. You should also confirm any text message requests to meet somewhere by calling the person. This ensures that you do not place yourself in a bad situation if the phone had indeed been stolen.

Criminals know how to use today’s technology too. This makes it very important for people to protect themselves and their belongings by using a little extra care with their GPS tracking devices and cell phones.

by James Neely, freelance writer: click | HERE | to check out GPS products from Rocky Mountain Tracking

On Christmas Day, 2009, a couple almost lost their lives because of their dependence on a GPS-enabled cell phone.  This Nevada couple allowed their GPS-enabled cell phone to direct them into a remote area of east Oregon and they encountered deep snow on a back road in a forest in which their SUV got stuck.  Fortunately, after a few days, atmospheric conditions improved so that their cell phone could get a better signal which allowed authorities to pin-point their location, pull their vehicle out and lead them to safety.

Stuck with GPS Tracking?

Now, while these GPS-enabled cell phones are easy targets in pointing out their flaws, there is another underlying issue which we will address later.  But, first it is important that we note the differences between GPS Navigation, GPS-enabled cell phones and GPS Tracking devices.

GPS Navigation

Some auto manufacturers include this option on their vehicles which is not dependent on cell phone towers and signals.  This is a good thing.  Not only do they provide turn-by-turn directions, but also a smorgasbord of features that are helpful and do enhance the ownership experience.  The problem is that you cannot purchase this OEM product on any vehicle - just the ones that are manufactured by the name-sake company.  Maybe that will change in the future.  The second pitfall with these systems is that the end user is not able to take control of the tracking and use it for their own purposes.  It is solely reliant upon the provider.  And, in addition to this, it takes extra time to engage those who monitor the system to provide services that are needed instantly, for example, theft recovery.

There is another after-market company that makes a device that helps locate a stolen vehicle but again, it is not owner-enabled.  Only police can ‘find’ these vehicles with these devices and currently only 5% of police vehicles have the ability and equipment to allow them to find these stolen vehicles.

Navigation units are also available as an after-market addition to your vehicle.  These provide turn-by-turn directions and a few other features, but no return information to a service provider about location information, etc.  They are limited and therefore are not effective from a safety and security standpoint.

GPS-enabled Cell Phones

These devices use cell phone signals and towers to send coordinates to authorities should you need assistance.  The problem with these devices is that as is pointed out in the above story, cell phone signals are subject to spotty coverage for a variety of reasons.  Added to this is the fact that battery life on cell phones is not that great compared to other dedicated GPS Tracking devices.  It just happens that this is what ultimately saved this couple.  But, the results could have been far more disastrous if they had not gotten that little bit of cell signal after three days.  GPS-enabled cell phones are not your best choice for devices of this type and purpose.

GPS Tracking Devices

We’ve been championing the use of GPS Tracking systems for months on this blog site and for good reason.  These units are the best choice from a safety standpoint for these reasons:

Any Vehicle Any Time - You can outfit any vehicle with a GPS Tracking device for tracking purposes.  And, you can also use these devices on other pieces of equipment that are used for other purposes.  Imagine any type of outdoor equipment that would benefit from this technology and there is a device available for it.

Always on Always Available - GPS Tracking devices, when properly installed, are direct connected to the vehicle’s battery and they have their OWN internal battery which means that if this couple above had lost battery power on their vehicle, the GPS Tracking device would still have been emitting a signal for DAYS after the primary power had gone away.  Try that with a GPS-enabled cell phone, or even an on-board Navigation system.

The bottom line and underlying message in this story is that common sense has to trump dependence on technology.  Face it, when your life is on the line, you need more to depend upon besides a voice emanating from cell phone telling you where to turn.  You need to prepare in advance for your trip and map out your route just to make sure that you do not take any out-of-the-way routes which are less travelled and can pose hazards because of your unfamiliarity and the weather conditions at the time of your trip.  This couple was lucky.  Maybe next time the outcome will not be so good.

Also, choose GPS Tracking devices that do not depend on cell signals.  The best GPS devices are either completely independent of your vehicle, or are integrated within it which provides always on and always available capabilities.  And, independent battery power helps insure that your device is sending out signals with the maximum amount of time possible.

In our humble opinion, GPS Tracking devices remain the best option for safety and security.  Rocking Mountain Tracking has the best line-up of GPS Tracking devices to meet any need.  Take a look at their products and options for the best fit for your business.  You will find knowledgeable sales persons in helping you get the best unit to meet your requirements.

By Greg Bartlett

Dog owners around the world understand the strong bond that can develop between humans and canines. To someone who doesn’t own a dog, that bond can be inexplicable, but a dog lover’s pet can become like a member of his family. Pet owners spend immeasurable time and money on their pets, and they grieve when their animal family members become sick and when they die. When a dog becomes lost, its owners spend many hours frantically searching and hoping that a kind person will find and report the lost animal.

GPS Tracking & Animals

But what if your dog doesn’t meet with good fortune? What if a crotchety neighbor decides to take pot shots at your animal and causes injury or death, as happened in one recent neighborhood? Pet owners whose pets are protected by GPS tracking can rest easy knowing that they could locate their beloved animal friend as soon as they realize he’s gone missing, minimizing the chance of tragedy.

Some GPS tracking devices have been designed specifically for pet owners and can be attached to a dog or cat’s collar. Certain models come with alert systems which allow you to set up a perimeter around your home. If your animal crosses the perimeter, you’ll receive an email or text message, allowing you to check on his location and retrieve him immediately.

GPS tracking devices can be invaluable for owners of expensive dogs as well. Dog thefts occur more often than many people realize, with small, expensive dogs such as Yorkshire terriers being the primary targets. Thieves can sell these dogs quickly for a hefty profit, and it’s not uncommon for a dog to disappear from the owner’s back yard in a matter of minutes. When your dog is protected by a GPS tracking device, however, you can immediately notify the police not only of the theft, but also of the dog’s whereabouts so that they can begin retrieval procedures.

As a dog owner, you’d do just about anything to keep your pet from harm. You provide food, shelter, health care, and love for your canine friend. You care about his safety and well-being, and you’re willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that he is cared for. Perhaps it’s time to take the next step and give your dog the gift of safety by equipping him with a GPS tracking device. The peace of mind you receive will be well worth the investment.

By Greg Bartlett

People commit crimes every day. Some are as serious as murder while others might be as simple as petty larceny. But the concern that any community faces is what to do with the criminals who are caught and convicted. The most dangerous should be kept away from the community, yes, but what about others who don’t seem quite as dangerous? What about the car thief or the man who lost his temper and hit his wife? Prison may not seem like the best option for them, but how can the community ensure that these people won’t endanger others if they are released?

GPS & Public Protection

GPS monitoring allows police and the community to keep track of offenders who live in the neighborhood. For instance, two teens were arrested this week in Canada after they stole a car, drove it recklessly, and then crashed it. They’d apparently already stolen a number of cars, so police didn’t want to just release them even though they weren’t violent and, other than stealing cars, didn’t present a threat to the community. Instead, the teens are being monitored with GPS tracking so that police know exactly where the teens are at any time and can even be alerted if they go out at certain times of the day or into certain areas.

Or what about the domestic violence offender? Sometimes these offenders may have just lost their temper and would never harm the victim again, but sometimes they’ll come back and injure or even kill the victim. GPS monitoring allows police to keep track of the offender and even set up boundaries where the offender isn’t allowed to enter. For instance, the victim’s home, workplace, and her children’s school may be off-limits, and if the offender enters one of these areas the GPS monitoring device will alert both her and police. She can then avoid a confrontation with the offender while police pick him up for violating the order to leave her alone.

Prisons may be the best way for communities to protect itself from criminals, especially violent ones. However, in order to keep prison populations low and thus less costly to the public, releasing minimal-risk offenders may be necessary. GPS monitoring allows the offender to be safely integrated back into the community with a low risk while keeping a close eye on the offender to ensure that he or she does not return to his or her crime.

By Greg Bartlett

Last year, Somali pirates hijacked an oil tanker the size of an aircraft carrier. The ship was carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil - more than a quarter of the total oil Saudi Arabia produces in a day. For several months, the ship was docked in a port used by the pirates until they were able to get a ransom. The bad news was that the pirates were well-equipped with speed boats, advanced weapons systems and GPS tracking. The good news was that the ship also had GPS tracking. Naval authorities knew where the ship was at all times even though the pirates had been able to elude them with other ships in the past.

GPS & Oil Tankers

It’s doubtful that you’ll be sending any ships out in the near future, more doubtful that they’ll be the size of the Sirius Star, and even more doubtful that they’ll be hijacked by Somali pirates! If you did own such a ship, you probably would have bought a GPS tracking device a long time ago. You can be sure the other ship owners did after this bit of news!

But it’s quite likely that you own a car or maybe even a boat. It’s also quite possible that one of those items could be stolen. And it’s absolutely certain that if they were, you would be wanting a way to track where they went. That would make for a good dinner party conversation: how shocked you were to walk out to the driveway and see that your car was gone; how relieved you felt when you remembered the device you had hidden under the spare tire; how amazing it was to see it appear on a map; how quickly the police responded and how shocked the thieves were to see them arrive.

If you’re planning to ship 2 million barrels of crude oil in the next few days, you’ll definitely want to consider a GPS tracking device, but most of us probably aren’t going to do that in the near future. Just as well, you might want the same kind of protection for your car. You can be sure that the Somali pirates regretted the foresight of the owners of the Sirius Star. You can be just as sure that anyone who took your car would regret your foresight too. in either case, a GPS tracking device is a small investment to make in protecting much larger assets.

By Greg Bartlett

Whether it’s a parent tracking down a mischievous teenage driver, or a group of law enforcement officers tracking down a criminal, car tracking can be extremely helpful in a variety of ways. It can track a moving car via satellite to within a few feet. It is able to determine every move a runaway criminal makes as soon as he makes it. If we had car tracking installed in our cars, it would simplify life, and solve many problems.

GPS & Car Tracking

Car tracking is an electronic device that is installed into a vehicle. The device can record the distance travelled, the speed travelled, the direction and locations travelled to, and certain trigger events such as turning the car on or off, or opening and closing doors.

There are two types of this technology. The first type is passive tracking. In this method of tracking, the electronic device is removed after the car is done travelling and it is able to determine where the car has been. The second type is active tracking, and this generally produces a live feed of the data via a cellular or satellite device.

Every parent with a teenager knows what it feels like to say goodbye to their child and watch him speed off. Some parents have relied on car tracking to monitor their children’s driving habits. Many teens feel like they have to drive more slowly now that their parents can view every move they make. It also is extremely helpful in making sure that their kids are in the right place. Knowing that their kids are where they say they will be provides a level of trust for the parents, and with this device some parents give teenagers more privileges. Teens like the idea too because it helps them show that they can be mature, and are capable of being trusted by their parents. GPS tracking is used to monitor the location of the vehicle, and cutting edge technology enables the device to record and store the desired data.

GPS technology is becoming increasingly more advanced each year. This new technology is helpful in chasing criminals when used by police officers, and in keeping teenage drivers safe on the roads. Whether it is the police tracking down a criminal, or a nervous parent checking up on a reckless teen, car tracking may be the solution that is capable of making our roads a safer place.

By Greg Bartlett

Nearly everyone will admit to knowing someone with an unusual pet. Maybe it’s the creepy guy with the snake collection, or that girl who positively adores her talking Hill Myna. Petting zoos too are very popular with kids this holiday season, and taking your kids will give them a chance to interact with a variety of unique species. Thankfully, these kinds of pets aren’t apt to wander far, but those with more mobile animals may want to consider a GPS tracking system. Easily one of the most in-demand items during this time of year, a GPS tracking device under the tree is sure to bring a smile to any pet owner.

Tracking Animals with GPS

One couple in Ohio is certainly putting theirs to good use. Steve Heathman and Dr. Melanie Butera have a household pet especially prone to wander. When a farmer brought an injured deer to Dr. Butera, a veterinarian, the couple simply couldn’t let the animal go. They named her Daffodil (Dillie for short) and nursed her back to health, deciding to keep the animal indoors with their two cats and one dog. Dille’s now housetrained and very much part of the family, so when she wandered out of an open gate this past summer, Heathman and Butera decided to purchase a collar outfitted with a GPS tracking device. Now her movements can be monitored with a computer, and the (slightly out of the ordinary) Ohio family has a little more peace of mind.

In a far less comfortable environment are New England’s moose herds, who nonetheless benefit from GPS tracking technology, as well. In case you’re wondering how well your pet’s GPS tracker will hold up, just follow the data provided by the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit as they seek to protect moose that will contend with harsh conditions this winter. Researchers have outfitted many moose with GPS tracking devices which will let authorities see how animal populations are reacting to lengthening road networks and expanding neighborhoods. Ultimately, researchers hope to protect moose and humans from fatal road collisions or other accidents.

Yet the beauty of a GPS tracking system is its scalability. Whether you’re tracking one individual unit or hundreds, a fleet of fast-moving vehicles or a few slow-moving deer, an effectively implemented GPS tracking system can provide you with all information you need to keep what you love safe.

By Greg Bartlett

Why invest $20,000 in merchandise and $10,000 in transport, only to lose it because you didn’t purchase a $200 tracking device? Recently, a church filled a container with books worth thousands of dollars, spent thousands more to have it shipped, and lost the entire container because a secretary wrote down the wrong address. When the container arrived in the wrong country, thieves took advantage of the opportunity and the container was never found.

GPS & Shipping Containers

Of course, it would be a good idea to check the address twice. But you could be far more confident if you knew that you included a GPS tracking device.

Imagine hearing that your investment has been lost and knowing that there is absolutely nothing you can do. Imagine being the pastor that has to inform his church members that their sacrifice and effort was lost.

Or imagine being the small business owner who has to inform his investors or his customers that the entire shipment is gone and there is no way to retrieve it. Now imagine receiving the same news and going online to find out where your shipment is. Imagine informing your church members or customers that you had the foresight to include a tracking device. Of course, had you not thought of it the shipment would be gone, but because you put this little device inside, you know exactly where it is and can have the shipment back in no time.

The best thing about a GPS tracking device is that it’s small and impossibly hard to find. Would-be thieves wouldn’t know that you included it or possibly have a way to find it in a large container. And of course, they would be completely unaware that they are leading law-enforcement directly to them by the very thing they want to take with them.

People never think of taking precautions until they are in a situation where they wish you had. Once the shipment has disappeared, it’s too late to throw a little device that no one would notice inside. Sometimes a very small investment can save you from a very big loss. You really don’t want to be the person suffering a big loss and kicking yourself for not taking that extra step especially after having read this article! We could certainly say that there at least one organization that really wishes they had made the extra effort!

By Greg Bartlett

Your house contains a variety of objects, some with sentimental value, and some very expensive or hard to replace. Last week your neighbors, who were gone on vacation, discovered when they got back that their house had been burglarized. You’re planning on traveling for the holidays soon, but you don’t want to be the next victim of a burglary.

GPS & Burglaries

Thankfully, you don’t have to be. If you use GPS tracking devices on your possessions, you can help protect them against theft. If used on possessions, GPS tracking units can help ensure that you are notified and able to recover anything which is stolen.

For instance, one man placed GPS tracking devices on his furniture. He had alerts set up to let him know if it was moved, and one day he received an alert and called the police. The burglars, who were attempting to steal his furniture, were almost immediately caught and the furniture safely returned.

Another man used a GPS device on his boat, which he kept at his vacation home in Florida. While at home in another state, he received an alert that his boat had been moved. He was able to call Florida police and get them to stop the theft of his boat without even being in Florida.

Just this past week in Texas, a man was arrested for stealing appliances. For a while now, he’d been breaking into newly built homes and taking microwaves, ovens, and similar appliances. One homebuilder, however, placed GPS tracking units in some of the appliances. When an oven was stolen, police were able to follow it straight to the suspect, arrest him, and recover the oven and other stolen appliances.

If you use GPS tracking devices, you can ensure that if any of your possessions are moved or leave designated boundaries, perhaps your house or yard, then you’ll receive an email, phone, or text message alert immediately. You can then call the police while still monitoring the location of your stolen possessions. GPS tracking devices won’t stop someone from burglarizing your home while you’re gone for the holidays, but they can still give you peace of mind.

If someone comes into your house for their own holiday shopping – without, of course, paying you – it will take just a couple phone calls to get police to stop them and change the burglars’ holiday plans, and you’ll help ensure that your possessions are returned to their rightful owner – you.