Rocky Mountain Tracking

By Greg Bartlett

The FBI’s statistics claim that a car is stolen every 33 seconds.  With 1 in 210 vehicles being stolen, US citizens experienced a loss of $6.4 billion from stolen automobiles in 2008.  For most people, the idea that their car would be the 1 in 210 that is stolen is never considered, much less planned for.  Some people don’t think to lock their cars or take any sort of anti-theft precautions, which may mean that they will find themselves without a car and with the expense of purchasing a new vehicle should their stolen one not be recovered.

GPS Tracking & Auto Theft

And unfortunately, recovery rates aren’t high.  According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, only 63% of stolen cars are recovered.  For one man in California, his car was the 1 in 210 stolen, but it was also one of the recovered vehicles because he installed a GPS tracking device in his car.  When his truck was stolen from his workplace, the man was able to use live tracking to find his vehicle and locate the address where it stopped.  Once the owner alerted police, they were able to arrest the thief and recover the vehicle, undamaged, within a few hours of the theft.

A GPS tracking device in a vehicle can help individuals as well as companies.  For instance, one company had over $300,000 worth of vehicles stolen, but were able to recover them within an hour because of GPS tracking.  Since the devices were small and easily hidden, the thieves were unable to find and disable them before police instead located the stolen vehicles and the thieves.  Another company found that robberies of its vehicles decreased 50% because of the use of GPS tracking units.

For many people, their vehicle is not just a convenience, it’s a necessity and may even provide their livelihood should their job depend on transportation.  A GPS tracking device, though, can protect the vehicle by either constantly monitoring the vehicle’s location or, for no monthly charge, only being activated when the vehicle is stolen.

If your car is stolen, chances are high you will never see it again.  By the time you realize it’s gone and call the police, it may already be in a chop shop being dismantled.  A GPS tracking device will help save your car - and your money, time, convenience, and peace of mind - by keeping track of your car at all times and helping you recover it as quickly as possible if it is stolen.

By Greg Bartlett

Is there a driver in your life that causes you to worry?  Maybe it’s a new teenage driver, a suspicious spouse, or an employee that frequently travels.  No matter what the case may be, a tracking key can put all your worries to rest by giving you accurate information regarding the whereabouts and traveling habits of the person in question.

The Tracking Key

The tracking key is a small GPS tracking device that can be placed in or on the vehicle belonging to the person in question.  It is magnetic, so it can easily be hidden on the bottom of a car.  The tracking key receives information from satellites and records it for later retrieval by means of the USB port located at one end of the key. The information you receive can be shown graphically as a route over a city map or over a satellite image of the earth; or it can be received textually as a written report for you to read.  The tracking key is foolproof; it is a discreet and easy way to track the people you love or employ.  It keeps them accountable, and it keeps you in charge and in the know.

The tracking key can also be used in criminal investigations such as the one involving George Ford.  Here a man was accused of killing a young girl with his car.  His story is that around midnight one night in April 2007, he drove a young girl home after babysitting.  On the way, he stopped to show her some horses, at which time she got out to look at them.  He claimed that he accidentally ran her over as he was performing a reckless U turn.  He also claimed that, out of shock, he waited three hours before taking her to the hospital around 3 a.m.  However, he was unaware that there was a tracking key already on his car that told a different story.  The tracking key showed that his first stop was actually an abandoned house at which the car stayed for three hours.  It also showed that there was a collision around 3 a.m.  Investigators believe that the young girl ran away from Ford at the house, and he chased her and intentionally ran her down.  In the end, it was the tracking key that convicted him of murder and brought justice to the girl’s family.  Tracking keys truly are extremely useful.

By Greg Bartlett

Recovering stolen automobiles has long been a problem for law enforcement departments. Car thieves have become experts at obscuring the identity of a given vehicle, making it nearly impossible to identify the car with certainty if it has been in the thief’s possession for any length of time. But when owners equip their cars with GPS vehicle tracking, police have much better odds of recovering not only the stolen vehicle, but many times the car thief as well.

GPS Vehicle Tracking & Thieves

A GPS vehicle tracking unit can be easily concealed inside your car. Current models are small enough to be placed discreetly, unlike older units which were bulky and easily detected. If someone steals your car, you simply log on to your computer and you can see immediately where the car is, which direction its traveling, and how fast it’s going. This information allows the police to find and identify the car quickly, even if the thief has already removed identifying characteristics such as the license plate and VIN number.

GPS vehicle tracking has proved to be so successful in stopping car theft that many departments have begun using “bait cars” to attract would-be thieves in an effort to stop car theft rings. The decoy cars are chosen based on their potential to attract the attention of a typical car thief and sometimes have valuables in plain sight. Once the thief takes the bait, the police can nab him immediately. Many of the cars are also equipped with technology that allows them to be turned off remotely, so that once police have the car in sight, they can kill the engine, making the arrest easier. Audio and video surveillance is typically used as well, which has provided invaluable insight into the actions and intentions of suspects.

Law enforcement departments have reported great success with the GPS vehicle tracking programs and have begun using the devices to monitor high theft areas and large events such as car shows or motorcycle rallies where theft is more common. The devices have saved departments significantly in terms of resources and manpower, allowing them to accomplish more and to increase effectiveness even on a tight budget.

Car owners who equip their vehicles with GPS tracking have taken the single most effective step in keep their cars safe. While locks and alarms can sometimes prove to be deterrents, experienced thieves know how to get around them. GPS tracking puts you as the owner in control of your car and gives you peace of mind that your valuable assets are protected.

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

The tables have been turned on police agencies as more and more municipalities are implementing GPS Tracking systems and deploying them into their squad cars.  Recently, Lowell Massachusetts did the same and experienced a backlash reaction from the majority of the police officers on the force.

GPS Tracking & Police Cars

Their reason for protesting is that these devices encroach upon their privacy.  But the facts behind putting GPS Tracking systems into place are too strong to ignore.  These include:

Employee monitoring

Even police officers are tempted to use company time and their cruisers for personal business.  While it is necessary and proper for police vehicles to be seen out in the public, it is not alright for officers to use them for personal purposes while they are on patrol.  This diverts their attention away from their jobs and can have serious consequences when it comes time to respond to calls for emergency assistance.

Look, no employee likes to be watched over their shoulder, but the simple truth is that if a person is not violating regulations or laws, there should be no objection to this type of monitoring.  Besides, the majority of citizens in the communities in which these systems are being put into place agree with their use.  What is good for other applications of GPS Tracking systems is just as good in this scenario as well.

Location monitoring

Dispatchers who can view a vehicle location on a map without making a radio call, can route the nearest officer to a call with better accuracy which equals better response.  This alone is worth the cost of implementation.  When the issue of public safety arises, most other issues take a back seat in importance.

Maintenance monitoring

Police cars are some of the most abused assets in use today.  And, it stands to reason that any system designed to help monitor maintenance schedules of these vehicles in a closer manner will help them last longer by insuring that they get proper maintenance.  These maintenance schedules can be adjusted based upon not just the number of miles drive, but the terrain as well.

It is only a matter of time until GPS Tracking systems are implemented in a police organization near you.  The benefits are too good to pass up.

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.

So vehicle thefts are down but what about those of you who own vehicles that are specifically targeted by car thieves?  Do you feel comfortable with just your Original Equipment Manufactured theft deterrent system?  You shouldn’t because these professionals will steal your car if they get the opportunity.  They are trained at how to bypass theft deterrent systems, gain access to and drive away in your car.

Vehicle Theft & GPS

You don’t care because you have insurance, you say?  How do you like paying high premiums because your car is a high risk for theft?  Does your money matter to you that little?  Here’s a little secret:  you can save money on your insurance by purchasing a GPS Tracking device and having it installed into your vehicle.

But, before we go down that road, here are four ways that you can help to prevent vehicle theft or incur almost instant recovery should your car be stolen:

Active Deterrent

Lock your vehicle and take your keys with you every time you leave your car.  This means, if your vehicle is out of your sight, even for just a few seconds, do this action.

Audio Warning

Use an alarm system that activates your horn or a siren if your vehicle is tampered with.  These will usually scare off would-be thieves.  Even if not, they draw attention to the vehicle which can help, too.

Immobilization Device

Consider having a “kill switch” installed under the dashboard which disables the ignition and renders your vehicle a 4,000 pound rock.  This is important, because if thieves encounter this type of device, they will not waste time trying to determine why the vehicle will not start.  Instead, they will find an easier target.

GPS Tracking

Purchase a GPS Tracking device and have it installed in your car.  Obtaining one of these units will give you the ability to track your vehicle should it be stolen.  The thieves will not know about your device which will allow you to give location information to police who can then recover it within hours, not days, weeks, months or maybe never.

Finally, the savings on your insurance premiums can pay for one of these devices in just a few months.  There, you do not have any good reason to avoid adding a GPS Tracking device to your vehicle.

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

From California comes a story which reveals that the state is getting ready to roll out speed sensors on red light cameras at major intersections.  Debate is formulating whether or not this is another way that the government is impinging on personal rights while it seeks to raise revenue from speeding tickets without the overhead of having to pay police to do the job.

GPS & Radar

Another troubling thing about this is that the fines for speeding that are generated from this activity have been proposed to be from $225 to $325 for each violation.  The money generated from these fines would be shared among cities and counties in which the infractions occurred.

How to Fight Back

Slow Down: The first thing that drivers must do when faced with these actions is to drive the speed limit and no more.  If you are not in violation of the law, you will avoid staying out of trouble.

Maintenance Check: Make sure that your speedometer is accurate.  It is your responsibility to insure that your speedometer is working correctly so that you do not get false readings which can lead to tickets.  One way that you can check this is to request the local police to visit your house, and then have them clock you on their radar unit as you drive up and down the street.  Be sure to ask if the officer’s radar unit has been calibrated recently.  They are known to drift from their settings due to the temperature extremes that police vehicles are often placed under.

Radar Detectors? Some will argue that radar detectors are the way to go, but these have an inherent problem:  most radar units are set to power up and emit signals immediately before they track your speed.  This means that radar detectors will not be able to “see” the radar until it is too late.  Will this type of radar unit be used in these situations?  It remains to be seen.

Better Yet: Consider adding a GPS car tracking device to your vehicle.  These units are always on and always tracking and can provide speed data which you can use to prove your innocence in a court of law (as long as you were really abiding by the speed limit).  It has been done before and you are well within your rights to use this method to keep from having to pay the fine and court costs along with the ensuing points that go onto your record.

In reality, the fine and court costs can approach the cost of a GPS car tracking device.  Furthermore, you will probably be entitled to a break on your insurance premiums when you do install one of these units.

Finally, do these red-light cameras and now the radar units attached really reduce unsafe driving activities?  That remains to be seen as the data is not available to support that premise.  But, one thing remains clear, the primary purpose appears to be making money, not making the streets safer.

GPS car tracking devices will help you keep a close watch on your vehicles and those who drive them.  What better way of helping to reduce the possibility of getting a ticket than with closer monitoring and instructing those who drive your vehicles to be aware of their actions at all times?  It just makes sense.

By Greg Bartlett

As GPS tracking becomes a more exact science that is capable of greater reliability and more varied options, industries and departments across the business spectrum have begun realizing the potential benefits that they can reap from the technology. Building contractors use GPS tracking to protect their expensive heavy machinery, distributers place the devices in their fleet vehicles to monitor routes and fuel consumption, and law enforcement departments increasingly rely on GPS devices to help them follow stolen vehicles, watch suspected criminals, and monitor paroled inmates.

GPS Tracking & Banks

The banking industry also relies on GPS technology to protect cash and assets. One recent robbery attempt was foiled because, unbeknownst to the perpetrator, the bag of cash he was carrying also contained a GPS transmitter. Police were able to follow his movements and pick him up almost immediately. As more and more businesses begin using the technology, police gain the upper hand over criminals by introducing the element of uncertainty. Criminals never know whether their movements might be monitored after a robbery, and perhaps some would-be thief will think twice before pulling his next job. Banks and other businesses can buy the devices from Rocky Mountain Tracking. As more stories of GPS-related business benefits surface, the company expects to see a marked increase in sales.

Police departments favor increased use of GPS tracking because it not only saves time and reduces the number of hours needed for surveillance, but also keeps officers safer by equipping them with more specific knowledge of the suspect’s whereabouts. Officers who have the aid of a GPS device can solve cases like the attempted robbery in as little as twenty minutes, giving the thief less time to hide the evidence, contact associates, or even make it back home. Other uses of GPS by law enforcement include bracelets placed on parolees to make sure they are keeping the terms of their parole as well as placement of GPS devices on the cars of suspected criminals such as drug dealers. While the use of GPS to monitor suspects brings up privacy concerns, proponents argue that the procedure can save significantly on money and time while not giving any more information than someone could gather by watching the suspect’s car.

The ability to monitor movement from a remote location opens a vista of possibilities for businesses of all stripes. Perhaps it’s time to ask what GPS tracking could do for you and your business.

By Greg Bartlett

These are bad days for bank robbers. Everybody knows about the old trick of the exploding ink bombs. But now it’s getting better. The latest trick leads law enforcement wherever the money goes.

Bank Robbers & GPS Tracking

In New Haven, Connecticut, a thief was apprehend only moments after robbing a bank. When the robber demanded the money, the bank was kind enough to include something else - a GPS anti theft device. In Memphis TN, a desperate owner of a failed business walked into a bank and waved off the cashiers with a silver revolver. He emptied the drawers of thousands of dollars and a GPS anti theft device. The police simply drove to where the anti theft device told them to go and recovered the money.

If you’re a bank robber, you might want to consider a new career. And if you’re a bank, you might want to consider investing in this new type of anti theft device. But you don’t have to fit either category to see the value and the power of something like this. In fact, if you work with any type of valuables that you need to protect, a little investment like this just makes sense. What could be better than a guarantee that you’ll know where your investment is at all times? It can make your mind go into high gear: how many different kinds of investments could this protect? Car dealerships could include one in every car on the lot. Large shipments of inventory from overseas could have one in every crate. Art galleries could insert a small device in the back of every picture frame! That may sound odd, but if someone had thought of that idea, we wouldn’t still be wondering about all those famous paintings that completely disappeared.

The reason that banks came up with this is fairly obvious. Everywhere your investment goes, the GPS device goes too. It doesn’t matter how good of a getaway plan anyone has or how well they pull it off. When they get home and start dividing up the rewards, law enforcement will be on the way. And nothing any criminal does can get away from the constant, silent update, telling you where they’ve gone. It’s that simple. Make a little investment to protect the big investment you can’t afford to lose. The cops will love you, the crooks will hate you, and what really matters is that you’ll keep your 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 James Neely, freelance writer: click | HERE | to check out GPS products from Rocky Mountain Tracking

This scenario is entirely possible:  a person who steals an item that is tracked by a GPS Tracking device is caught red-handed with the stolen property, and is in turn, sentenced to house-arrest and wearing of a GPS Tracking device.

GPS & Crime Prevention

Technology is at work to help deter theft by increasing the chances of being caught and prosecuted for crimes committed.  It just does not pay to steal other’s property.  Here’s how:

Instant Tracking

You can employ instant tracking via ‘always on’ technology.  The only thing that you might have to be aware of is battery life if you are using a portable device.  If your device is installed in a vehicle, it will use the car’s battery as primary power and its own internal battery should it become disconnected from the vehicle battery.

Instant tracking means that you can get real-time updates from your device to allow you to pin point location and provide this information to authorities who can begin efforts to stop a stolen vehicle.

Location Tracking

Knowing where your property is located gives you peace of mind.  Consider that you can also set up ‘geo-fencing’ so that you can get alerts should your property be stolen and moved.  This is great for those who own RVs and other items like boats and choose to store them at a storage facility.

GPS Tracking is a mandatory item now days to keep your property within ‘arms reach.’  This is an investment worth making.

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.