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Britain: GPS Tracking Of Stolen Vehicles Put To The Test

May 18th, 2013

GPS tracking devices have been relied upon by many private investigators for a long time. They are effective in locating just about anything all over the world, especially expensive items like iPhones and cars.

Over in the UK, the Telegraph reported recently on a CCTV video released by the West Midlands Police showing two men stealing a BMW 118D from a hotel parking lot in Ladywood, Birmingham in under 15 seconds. This certainly shows the merits of a GPS tracking device when it comes to recovering your stolen car. The two men, brothers, stole a total of 13 cars over the period of 20 days, a combined value of about £250,000. The GPS tracking device, very well hidden on the BMW, directed police right to the garage attached to the brothers’ house in Brierley Hill’s Old Bush Industrial estate in Birmingham.

The brothers were sentenced to four years in prison for conspiracy to steal motor vehicles at Birmingham Crown Court.

GPS: Recovering Cars Quickly and Easily

Investigating officer DC Matt Dyer of the West Midlands Police said, “This was an organized, sophisticated operation with high performance cars being stolen in less than 60 seconds. Their method of entry was somewhat rudimentary, but once inside they clearly demonstrated technical skill to start the engine very quickly.

“Our investigation led us to recover all but one of the cars they stole. Car theft is a very risky business given that so many are now fitted with (GPS) tracker devices and that our road network is covered extensively by Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras which allow us to monitor vehicle movement.”

Private Investigator Agrees

Private Investigator, an independent detective agency out of Birmingham, also relies on GPS tracking devices. They also turn to the devices in cases where one spouse is said to be cheating on the other to see where it is they are going. As soon as the device is affixed to the vehicle, tracking can begin. The use of tracking devices on the vehicles stolen by the brothers allowed the owners to be reunited with their property.

Says Kristy George, spokeswoman for Private Investigator: “In my professional opinion these brothers were lucky to have stolen as many cars as they did with all the crime prevention modern technology available. An expensive vehicle like a BMW should be fitted with a GPS tracker for the owner’s peace of mind.”

Company Vehicle Theft Prevented with GPS Tracking

April 3rd, 2013

Earlier this year, police in El Mirage, Arizona, arrested 3 males involved in the theft of a company vehicle. The offenders were determined to hold onto the car too; it took tear gas and a SWAT team to flush them out of the residence in which they’d holed themselves up. But the vehicle was recovered, thanks to a GPS monitoring device previously installed by the proprietors of the company and tracked directly to the thieves, who were immediately charged with the crime and taken to jail.

A possible reason for the criminals’ swiping the car? Besides theft of the vehicle, at least one of them was connected with a chop shop. Whether the company vehicle itself was intended to be dismantled for parts or to carry other illegally gained car parts, scrap metal, and other equipment was not reported, but both goals are two of the most common reasons for vehicle theft from companies. Since it doesn’t take long to make a stolen car “disappear,” the GPS device may well have made the difference between recovering the vehicle or losing it for good.

GPS Tracking as a Deterrent to Misuse of Company Vehicles

Even when a company owns only a few vehicles, GPS tracking is an indispensable tool in preventing theft. Beyond outright theft, electronic monitoring enables owners and managers to know exactly what employees are doing in their vehicles when off property or on the job. Tracking equipment signals can report back most commonly via mobile device app or online software accounts the current location and direction of the vehicle at any given time. If drivers with a preset route deviate off course, supervisors will know about it, discouraging company vehicle use for unauthorized stops or for work other than with the company that owns it. For some businesses, speed and driving safety are of concern. GPS tracking can relay that too—the driver’s varying velocity at any coordinate—to deter breaking legal speed limits.

In addition to tracking the vehicle itself, GPS monitoring can be used to prevent taking company equipment. For long-haul companies transporting expensive items like big appliances, computers, tablets, or other electronic devices (or even carrying new automobiles themselves), GPS tracking of company goods is quickly gaining a reputation as being worth the cost and effort.

Woman Finds GPS Under Her SUV; Sheriff Claims it Wasn’t Used to Track Her

May 26th, 2012

One of the major controversies surrounding GPS tracking technology has to do with personal privacy. Although GPS could be credited for many advances in science, technology, and everyday living, a lot of people are still wary of the newfound ability to locate anyone, anywhere, using satellites from space. One such critic had her fears brought to life when she found a GPS tracking device attached to her SUV on May 3, 2012. Deputies in Fort Collins, Colorado attached the device to Stacy Lynne’s vehicle back in December as a precautionary measure, but claim to never have turned it on. “That is unbelievable. I think that’s unbelievable. Isn’t that called stalking?” asked Lynne.

Stacy Lynne had recently lost a custody battle and was ordered to turn over her son to her ex-husband. Not recognizing the authority of the court, she refused to follow the court’s orders. While she was in a local copy shop on Dec. 21, 2011, working on her legal pleading, the deputies placed a GPS tracking device on her SUV before arresting her. “They did place a GPS tracker on that vehicle because we didn’t know where that kid was. There was a fear that she would flee with the child,” explained Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith. “We had a court order that this child needed to be safely returned.” She was only held in jail for a few hours while her son was returned to his father, and never faced any charges.

According to the Sheriff, his department didn’t break any laws by placing the tracking device on Lynne’s vehicle without a warrant, because they never turned the device on. During the following months, the deputies made repeated attempts to retrieve the device without Lynne’s knowledge. Unfortunately, she began to notice a police presence following her, and eventually located the device under her SUV. “They just couldn’t find it, and we didn’t want to trespass on private property to retrieve it,” said Smith. “Certainly in this case, the last thing I wanted to see was things that would add to her angst… I’m not happy it was just floating out there. We should have found a way. We should have gotten that thing back,” Smith said.

Supreme Court Ruling Could Make or Break First-Degree Murder Trial

February 9th, 2012

In wake of the recent Supreme Court ruling, calling warrantless GPS tracking unconstitutional, attorneys around the country are digging through their cases and filing appeals. Eric Vernon, Shon Pernice’s defense lawyer, is no exception. Pernice, an independent firefighter in Kansas City, MO, is charged with first-degree murder of his spouse, whose body has yet to be found. He is scheduled to stand trial later this month, and his attorney hopes that the recent Supreme Court ruling will work favorably in Pernice’s case.

Renee Pernice, the suspect’s spouse, was reported missing in January of 2009. Investigators and Renee’s family believe her husband is responsible for her disappearance. Because the body has yet to be located, there is little hard evidence against the defendant. Now it appears some of the most incriminating evidence is being called into question. The suspect was traced to a park within days of his wife’s disappearance, and was seen releasing the family dog. However, investigators may have only been able to witness this suspicious activity with the help of a GPS tracking device installed on Pernice’s vehicle. According to Vernon, police tracked his client’s cell phone and vehicle without obtaining a warrant.

Vernon filed motions to suppress the evidence gained through illegal GPS tracking. A Clay County judge will make a decision as to the fate of the evidence on Friday. According to Paul Morrison, a former Johnson County District Attorney who now practices as a defense lawyer, the Supreme Court didn’t do investigators any favors. “It’s going to make police work a little harder,” said Morrison. “Prosecutors and police are going to have to get warrants when they want to do this kind of thing.” As more and more cases like this pop up, time will show the lasting impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Fleet Tracking with Mobile Phones

August 20th, 2011

Many companies use GPS technology to monitor the status of vehicles and drivers in their fleet. This allows them to provide accurate customer service and to prevent unnecessary loss of time and resources. This tracking involves installing a GPS transmitter in the vehicles of the fleet. Unlike GPS mapping devices like many consumers have in their cars, these tracking transmitters are much simpler. They don’t need a display to give directions; they just send a signal for fleet managers to track. Fleet managers usually monitor the progress of their vehicles with an interactive webpage that shows the location of tracked vehicles. However, many managers need to monitor their fleets while they themselves are on the road.

Networkfleet just announced that they’re offering a new website for tracking fleet vehicles from mobile devices. Their new tracking page allows fleet managers to monitor their drivers from an iPhone or Android device. This gives managers the freedom to travel where they need to be, while still keeping track of the drivers and vehicles under their care.

The Networkfleet tracking system provides a full array of information for users: fleet location, engine diagnostics, truck speed, ignition and idle information, engine status, and a map. This puts a wealth of tracking information into the hands of on-the-go fleet managers.

Networkfleet is a leader in wireless fleet managing services. Their goal is to provide managers with all of the information that they need to reduce fuel usage, monitor emissions, and track maintenance expenses. This San Diego based company is owned by Hughes Telematics and was founded in 1999.

Networkfleet is an award-winning company that has been granted more than fifty patents (issued or pending) for remote monitoring and diagnostics for fleet managers. This newest project of theirs puts all of their industry-leading diagnostics information into the mobile phones of fleet coordinators across the country.

Monitoring a fleet of vehicles is not a simple objective. When that task ties down a valuable manager and limits him or her to a single desk or computer screen, it can hurt company objectives overall. That’s why having mobile access to GPS transmitters for vehicle information is such an important step for Networkfleet and their clients. Having the tracking data is essential, but it’s even better when all the important location and vehicle data can now be accessed from iOS and Android devices anywhere the manager needs to be.

Article Written by Mark Rammel

Calgary, Canada, Using GPS Tracking for Snowy Commutes

December 16th, 2010

The city of Calgary, Canada, has begun tracking its snow plows with a GPS tracking system. The intended goal of this GPS tracking system in Calgary will be to show which roads have been plowed and which roads are next for plows and sanders. The GPS tracking system will also show residents of Calgary where traffic is backed up, so they can adjust their commutes accordingly.

The program, which has been introduced right in time for the winter, is limited in that only 25% of the current snow plow vehicles have been equipped with GPS. However, this simply means that the map will cause residents and commuters to err on the side of caution with regards to their commutes.

Sean Somers of the Calgary roads department says that he knows that the GPS tracking system is incomplete. However, he hopes that city residents will use it as a useful tool to help plan their commutes.

The website will not be down during the winter months. Instead, it will double as a construction delay website for commuters to avoid construction or find detours.

In the coming months, Calgary will be expanding their GPS fleet tracking system to include more vehicles and to be more comprehensive. In the meantime, however, individuals can use the current service, located at http://calgary.ca/roadconditions, to track their commutes and plan for any potential snow delays.

Article Written by Greg Minton

Types of Equipment that Thieves Love to Target

November 15th, 2010

All types of equipment are vulnerable to theft. Yet, some equipment is more appealing to thieves than other types of equipment. The National Equipment Register (NER) recently printed a report detailing the types of equipment that are stolen on a regular basis. If you own any type of equipment from a backhoe to a fleet of construction vehicles, you will want to take a look at these statistics. You’ll also want to keep in mind that a simple GPS tracking device can prevent a thief from absconding with your expensive investments.

From Tractors to Wood Chippers

Homeowners often think that lawnmowers and tractors are same from theft. However, the NER reports that lawnmowers and regular garden tractors are stolen regularly. In fact, nearly 37% of all thefts involve a lawn or garden mower. These expensive machines are easy targets for thieves who sell tractors parts for a profit. If you have a lawnmower, think twice before leaving your mower in your yard unattended. You might also want to consider adding a GPS tracker to your mower just in case a thief is lurking in your neighborhood.

Here are some other types of machinery that thieves love to target:

• Loaders: 26% of all thefts.
• Rollers, Scrapers, Wood Chippers: 10% of all thefts.
• Forklift: 4% of all thefts.
• Bulldozer: 2% of all thefts.

Ways to Prevent Machinery Theft

As the NER points out, there are some ways to prevent equipment theft. Here are some important things to consider:

• Never leave equipment unattended.
• Do not leave equipment out in the open.
• Do not leave keys inside of equipment.
• Alert authorities when equipment will be left overnight.
• Install a GPS tracking device on each piece of equipment that you own.

When your equipment is protected by GPS technology, you can rest assured that no thief will get away with anything you own for very long. As soon as any piece of equipment is stolen, you will be able to track the whereabouts of the stolen machinery with a GPS tracker in minutes. Thieves have no chance of getting away when a GPS tracker is involved.

Article Written by Harriette Halepis

Construction Sites Depend on GPS Tracking

November 7th, 2010

As businesses all across the country have begun using GPS vehicle tracking to promote a green agenda, one field that has lagged behind has been the construction industry. Because construction vehicles operate in much rougher conditions than an average vehicle, fleet managers have been hesitant to incorporate the devices for fear that they could not withstand the heat, dirt, and heavy vibrations that go along with any construction vehicle. Recently, however, more and more construction managers have begun to realize the enormous benefits afforded by GPS technology, and have looked to tracking companies to provide heavy duty devices that can handle tough working conditions.

GPS Is Green

Going green for fleet managers means finding ways to conserve fuel and reduce energy consumption while still accomplishing each job efficiently. GPS tracking has helped numerous companies by enabling managers to monitor the routes their employees take as well as the time they leave a vehicle idling unnecessarily. With this information in hand, they can begin training employees in how to use less fuel by taking simple measures such as choosing the shortest route to a destination and turning off the engine when the vehicle is not in use.

Construction crews in particular can reap the most benefits when they use tracking information to determine how each vehicle is being used. They can build maintenance schedules around actual hours of use for each vehicle, reduce idle times, and base job bids on precise vehicle usage costs. Not only will a strategy such as this reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption, but it will also save thousands of dollars each year on fuel costs and engine maintenance.

Protect Heavy Machinery Investments

Another way contractors can benefit from the technology is by using it to monitor vehicles that must be left on the job site overnight. Construction vehicles have become targets for theft due to their high value, low security, and the difficulty of identifying a stolen vehicle once it has left the site. Using tracking capabilities to monitor vehicles, however, places contractors one step ahead of a would-be thief and gives them the ability to locate the vehicle as soon as they realize it is missing.

GPS vehicle tracking enables construction managers to develop strategies for a green work environment and for protecting assets while on the job site. With savings that could pay for the installation of the devices within the first year of use, there’s no better time to invest in protecting the most expensive equipment in the construction industry.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett

GPS Makes School Buses Safer

October 21st, 2010

More school systems are catching on to the idea of GPS tracking for their bus routes. For years school buses have been the most effective way to get students to school and back home each day, but they have always been plagued with inefficiency and some have developed a reputation among students for being unsafe. Many students beg parents to drive them to school because they are afraid to ride the bus, and many parents worry about their children, poised at the side of the road, when buses run late. While some of these issues must be addressed at multiple levels, GPS fleet tracking can aid in the resolution of many school bus troubles.

Fleet tracking has been used for many years by businesses to improve transportation efficiency and keep drivers accountable. A tracking device is attached to each vehicle and is monitored through satellite technology. Fleet tracking systems can tell the business owner all kinds of valuable information, including where a vehicle is, how fast it is traveling, if its doors are open, and the vehicle’s estimated time of arrival. All this data can be viewed in real-time or stored for later review and analysis.

Fleet tracking is now being used by more than business owners. School boards across the country have discovered the helpful benefit of GPS tracking technology. The Alpine School District of Utah has just begun using a tracking system to watch all of its school buses on their routes. They estimate the cost of the system will be saved in efficiency, including time and fuel savings, within the year. Parents’ worries about a late bus can be quieted; they can now call the office, and district personnel can tell them where the bus is and when it will arrive.

Student safety issues can also be addressed with the information GPS tracking systems provide. In Bibb County, Georgia, a bus driver was accused of departing from his route and taking at least one student to the wrong location. He was suspended and recommended for termination when the GPS data and security videos proved that the allegations were true. This kind of driver accountability can deter similar activity and help to identify problems quickly when they do occur.

There is no single cure-all for the bus route difficulties a school district may face, but GPS tracking is a tremendous boost is the right direction of saving money and keeping children safe.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett

GPS Helps Car Dealerships Rev Up Sales

October 2nd, 2010

Buying a car these days is a very expensive proposition even for Baby Boomers and Veterans who have had some time to amassed some wealth. These consumer groups have also typically embraced the car dealership as a venue of choice for buying a car. Not so for Generation X, Generation Y (or Millennials) and Generation Z (or Digital Natives).

These newer generations have been brought up using computers and Ipods. They don’t take road maps on trips, instead relying on GPS tracking or their cell phone to call for directions. Their natural tendency when buying a car is to do their research on the Internet and locate the vehicle on the Internet, sometimes even completing the sale on the Internet all without once seeing the car in person in some cases. They are not frequently seen at car dealerships.

How Dealerships Can Attract Younger Buyers

The problem for car dealerships is how to attract these elusive buyers who are not motivated by corporate or brand loyalty or status symbols. The car dealership needs to understand how to attract these younger generations if they want to profit. They have been raised with technology and it is important to them. They like gadgets and little luxuries such as web-enabled computers on the showroom floor and touch screens where they can customize a car to their liking. They want to see the screen that the salesman is looking at instead of waiting for him to run back and forth to his boss. According to a recent Microsoft commissioned survey, 67% consider GPS tracking to be vital for their cars and they want it to come standard along with items such as a port for their music players and software to track their fuel consumption.

Car dealerships would be wise to study the characteristics of the younger population and make their showrooms more technologically savvy and the buying process more transparent. GPS tracking and other technology as standard equipment will be what drives sales in this new demographic. Encouraging these new generations to try a new, improved car buying experience could mean the difference for future sales.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett