Rocky Mountain Tracking

Daily GPS News

How GPS Tracking Can Locate Money

June 4th, 2010

By Greg Bartlett

Have you ever misplaced money? Have you lost that $10 that you thought sure you had placed in your wallet or purse? Have you had money stolen from you whether or not you were aware of it?

Following Money with GPS Tracking

GPS tracking is an effective and efficient means of locating lost or stolen people, animals, goods, or money. It is different from GPS navigation commonly found in motor vehicles. A GPS tracking device may be placed on a person or item, allowing you to find that person or item. A GPS (global positioning system) tracking device works together with one of twenty-four satellites located above the earth to pinpoint and locate a person or item in real-time and track their movements. Once the signal is sent to the GPS-enabled tracking device (e.g., navigation system), that person knows the precise location of his/her asset.

You may have recently heard about how GPS tracking allowed police to capture two bank robbers who stole cash from the Bank of North Georgia. Police did not know the suspects and had conflicting reports regarding the getaway vehicle. Eyewitnesses told Hiram police that the suspects fled in a black SUV. Using a strategically-placed GPS tracking device in the stolen money, police followed the money to an Atlanta townhouse complex. The money did not move at that point. Hiram and Atlanta police moved in on the townhouse and located and arrested 23-year old Vernon Keith McDougal and 39-year old Jemal D. Coleman. Police were skeptical because a gold Nissan (not a black SUV) was parked outside. But police arrested the two thieves and placed them in the Paulding County jail.

In this particular case, the GPS tracking device placed inside the money by a brave and courageous teller established a signal with one of the satellites located outside the earth. These satellites cover most areas around the world. These twenty-four satellites are arranged so that four are placed within each of the six orbital planes of the earth. Once Hiram and Atlanta police took out their GPS-enabled devices (e.g., laptop computer, cell phone, etc.) and started receiving signals on their map, the police could track the movement of the money and trace it to the Atlanta townhouse in which they located and arrested the suspects. A GPS tracking device is the best answer for locating lost or stolen people, money, animals, and goods.

GPS Tracking Devices Play Detective

June 3rd, 2010

By Greg Bartlett

Cars stolen, stores burglarized, computers missing–in the past these crimes often may have meant a permanent loss of possessions for the owners. Although police could pick up on evidence at the crime scene, follow the trial, and do their best to bring the criminals to justice, no one could guarantee their search would be successful. Oftentimes hints and trails fail, and investigators find themselves at a dead end with valuable goods staying lost or stolen forever.

Theft Recovery with GPS Tracking

GPS tracking devices have changed this situation, doing away with many dead ends and thus helping individuals regain their stolen possessions. Families and business with valuable possessions can outfit their items with GPS devices. If the items are stolen, the GPS device tracks where it’s taken and leads the police or investigators to it. Not only do these owners recover their goods, but generally the criminals are apprehended as well.

One Florida man recently fell victim to GPS tracking. After he stole six computers from an Apple store, damaging the store in the process, owners of the store put their GPS tracking systems into action. Each computer contained a GPS device as well as another device which caused the computer to take a picture of the thief as soon as he turned the laptop on. Police were able to find the items stolen, tracking them to a former Apple security officer recently let go from his position.

Of course GPS tracking theft prevention is not limited to only computers. GPS devices can keep other valuables–jewelry, other electronics, and appliances for example–safe. Also, not only does it protect smaller valuables, but many families and business use these devices to protect their vehicles. In fact, according to at least one source, these devices may make auto theft a thing of the past.

Of course, many families and businesses may feel GPS tracking is expensive enough and their own risk of theft low enough to make purchasing the devices impractical. While there may be some truth to this though, protection against criminals generally does cost money and no one can know whether they’ll ever need the protection, these same people may find themselves wishing they’d acted differently. Better to be prepared now then sorry later. Whether you own a business and want to protect your merchandise or privately own possessions of sentimental or monetary value, protect your goods now. Don’t regret your lack of foresight later.

Forget Dogs – Sniffing Vultures Are Taking Over the Hunt

May 24th, 2010

By Harriette Halepis

Source acquired via Hosted News, May 20, 2010, Walsrode, Germany – Hunting dogs were once the only animal with keen enough sense to discover rotting corpses. Today, turkey vultures are beginning to take over the position of the humble hunting dog. One particular vulture, named Sherlock, is currently being trained to find and locate human bodies.

Turkey Vultures & GPS

Police in Walsrode, Germany, have hired bird trainer, Alonso, to train Sherlock to detect rotting human corpses. By placing small bits of meat in bowls covered with a sheet that was once used to cover a corpse, Sherlock is learning to like the scent of rotten meat. Police officer Rainer Hermann got the idea to use a turkey vulture in place of a hunting dog from “…a colleague of (his) who got the idea from watching a nature program.” Since turkey vultures are faster than dogs are, Rainer believes that “…time could be saved when looking for dead bodies…” Vultures like Sherlock will be fitted with GPS tracking devices, so that police can find a bird once a bird has located a body.

In addition, vultures can burrow into places that dogs can’t reach, which may make it easier to find missing persons. While Sherlock seems to be making progress, Alonso believes that this project would work better if “we (they) had a trio, led by Sherlock.” According to Alonso, this would allow for “…more ambitious stuff.” For now, Sherlock is operating without a Watson, though this may not be the case for long. If the “Sherlock project” turns out to be worthwhile, Alonso may be training more than one bird to locate corpses.

Sherlock has been a popular tourist attraction for those visiting Walsrode, and all who encounter the corpse-sniffing bird are amazed at his skills. Seemingly, there’s only one problem with using a turkey vulture to tracking down a human corpse: in order to survive in the wild, turkey vultures feed off of rotting flesh. Then again, it’s possible that a vulture raised in captivity can be taught not to peck at any remains found. Sherlock has never lived in the wild, which is one of the main reasons why Alonso is able to train him. The Sherlock program has not been put into place quite yet, though Alonso told press that Sherlock “…now has a rough idea of what he has to do.”

Furry Family Members and GPS Tracking

April 17th, 2010

By Greg Bartlett

For most people, pets are a part of the family. Sure, they’re furry, but they’re still family members. For some people, pets are their entire family. They might live alone as a young person, with just a dog or a cat for company, or perhaps an older person lives with a longtime family pet after the kids have grown up and left.

GPS Tracking & pets

No matter whether there are many people in the family or just one, a pet is still significant and its loss can be devastating. If the pet wanders off, no matter whether it is a purebred or a mix, the owners will be worried and scared that the pet might never come back. It might be bitterly cold and the pet could freeze to death, a pet could wander off too far and never come back, or a pet could even be stolen.

Protecting furry family members doesn’t have to just be a matter of keeping the pet inside all day. After all, some pets are escape artists, looking for any opportunity to slip out the door or over a fence. GPS tracking has now enabled pet owners to use GPS collars to track the whereabouts of their beloved pets and recover them quickly.

With a GPS tracking enabled collar, pet owners can now find their pets at all times. If a pet leaves a predetermined area, probably the house or yard, the owner receives a text message or phone call instantly, alerting him or her to the pet’s escape. The owner can then find the pet’s exact location and recover it before it gets further away from home. The GPS tracking unit will even notify the owner about the speed the pet is going, so if it looks like a dog is going, say, 55 miles per hour, it may be necessary to contact the police to help recover a stolen dog instead of just looking for a lost dog.

Whether a cat or a dog, whether young or old, pets can wander off and never come back. In the past, pet owners have often had to round up the entire family when a pet goes missing. Sometimes the whole neighborhood keeps an eye out for the missing pet, which hopefully is discovered soon. Thankfully, GPS collars make locating a pet much easier – and faster. With GPS tracking, pet owners can give themselves peace of mind by knowing that they can always locate their furry family members.

Getting It Back with GPS Trackers

April 6th, 2010

By Greg Bartlett

There’s a lot of ways GPS trackers can save you money-lower insurance premiums, better asset tracking, and more efficient fleet management are just a few of many. Yet businesses, non-profits, and consumers from all over the country are finding that what really makes GPS trackers a worthwhile investment is the chance they give law enforcement personnel to recover stolen property. Examples hit the news nearly every day, and here are a few of the most recent.

GPS Vehicle Tracking & Thieves

When his truck was stolen, Wallace simply booted up his PC and used his Smart Tracker‘s online interface to track his vehicle to a residential address. He called the local police department and officers recovered the truck within just a few hours. Similar stories happen more times than you could count, and the ending stays happy thanks to a well-placed GPS tracker.

Tyrone McDermott’s story isn’t as pleasant. While an ambulance was waiting in the parking area of a Birmingham clinic to transport a child patient to another facility, McDermott jumped into the cab and grabbed every piece of expensive-looking electronics that wasn’t nailed down. Unfortunately for him, that included a navigation unit with a GPS tracker that conveniently led law enforcement right to him at a grocery store. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the whole ordeal.

Sometimes the use of a GPS tracker to catch a criminal is a little more intentional. Responding to multiple reports of burglaries in a Brooksville, Florida suburb, police installed a GPS tracker on a refrigerator and placed it in a vacant house much like the ones targeted by the robber. Sure enough, the appliance was soon stolen-along with the GPS tracker-and the culprit was apprehended shortly after he sold his ill-gotten fridge to another homeowner. Similar efforts allowed police in Wyoming to catch thieves that had thousands of dollars of stolen property hidden in a rental car equipped with a tracking device.

Of course, it’s good to remember not to take up the recovery process of stolen property yourself. One couple in Minneapolis used the GPS tracker on their stolen cell phone to find the location of the thief, and they tried confronting the man themselves. Thankfully, the thief only ran off and police were able to apprehend him later, but the couple was strongly encouraged to leave the footwork to professionals.

Using GPS Tracking Devices to Catch Appliance Thieves

March 27th, 2010

By Greg Bartlett

Technology provides criminals with means of perpetrating crimes never before imaginable. Fortunately, law enforcement officials have recognized the value of technology in the fight against crime and have attempted to stay abreast of the criminal world by using recent technological advancements.

GPS & Theft

One area of technology employed by law enforcement officials is the GPS tracking system. A GPS tracking system comes in two different varieties. Passive GPS tracking systems utilize a small device that records directional movement which can later be recovered from the device and downloaded onto a computer. The second type of GPS tracking system is a live tracking GPS system. A GPS tracking device is mounted on the object to be tracked. These devices transmit directional information and tracking data to a satellite. The data is then available to the GPS tracking system user for real time access to the tracking device’s whereabouts.

Live tracking systems can even deliver rich photographic information of the location of the GPS tracking device and whatever the device is attached to. GPS live tracking has become useful to law enforcement for investigations of theft. A recent example of how GPS tracking devices are being used by law enforcement to investigate theft occurred in Hernando County Florida on March 17th, 2010.

After a string of burglaries in abandoned homes in the neighborhood, police planted GPS tracking devices on large appliances in several empty homes. Michael Anthony Lander was arrested on Wednesday after data from one of the trackers, mounted on a refrigerator was traced to his home. Landers had stolen the refrigerator along with a stove from an abandoned home the day before. Subsequently, he had sold the refrigerator for $225 on Craigslist. When police located the refrigerator, the person he had sold it to reported that he had gotten the refrigerator from Lander. Landers admitted to burglarizing 14 homes in the area.

In this case, GPS tracking devices enabled law enforcement officers to catch a thief who might have continued to perpetuate his crime for some time. Investigators found 34 items on Craigslist posted by Landers. A GPS tracking device enabled police to catch the thief.

For investigators with an interest in keeping tabs on criminal activity, a GPS tracking device may be the answer. Assets, vehicles, subjects, and sensitive packages can all be monitored with up to the minute information available from a laptop computer to the investigator who has employed GPS tracking devices.

GPS Tracking Devices and Globalization

March 3rd, 2010

By Greg Bartlett

With the advent of the internet, e-mail, Google, facebook, and countless other “connecting” devices, our world is becoming more and more “globilized.” Globalization is the term used to define how the world has become integrated through new technologies and trade.

GPS & Shipping Containers

One result of globalization is companies sending employees overseas for various reasons. For example, companies such as Michelin, Ernst and Young, L’Oreal, and many, many others send their employees overseas to live in foreign countries while executing business deals for the company or setting up international branches and offices.

Religious organizations send missionaries abroad to live among the people and spread their religious faith. Other people simply choose to make their home in a foreign country because they enjoy the culture, people, and experiences of living abroad. Occasionally a student will decide to study at a university in another country for a broadening educational experience.

Whatever the circumstances, an international move can be a source of pressure. Packing a container of your household goods to be shipped overseas is no small task! The last thing anyone wants to hear, after facing an overseas move, is that their container was lost or damaged. One way to prevent losing your container (or at least knowing exactly where it was when it was damaged!) is to use GPS tracking devices to insure that you are always aware of the location of your property. GPS satellites (there are approximately 24 satellites in space) track the latitude and longitude of the person or item wearing the receiver.

This information downloads constantly to the internet or a mobile device. There are both active and passive GPS tracking devices. Active devices download information as it occurs while passive devices are more of a record of what has happened. If you have invested in a GPS tracking device, if and when ever have a question about the location of your container or goods, the information is right at your fingertips. Occasionally, containers and goods shipped overseas can be docked at the wrong location and charges may accrue if they are not picked up within a certain amount of time.

When you arrive at your new foreign home, you don’t want to wonder where your belongings are located. If you are using a GPS device, you will never have to worry about losing your goods once they arrive at your overseas destination.

Auto Theft and GPS Vehicle Tracking

February 27th, 2010

By Greg Bartlett

Car theft presents a genuine threat in cities across the nation. While it may seem natural to assume that only new, expensive cars are in danger of theft, statistics reveal that the primary targets are mid-range cars from the 1990s, with the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry topping the list. Perhaps because these cars are easier to sell at a profit than a more expensive car would be and are less attention grabbing, car thieves gravitate toward them and others like them. In 2006, only 12.6 percent of the car theft cases reported were closed with the arrest of the perpetrator.

GPS Vehicle Tracking & Theft

With the advent of GPS vehicle tracking, that number can change dramatically. Police departments report that cars carrying GPS tracking devices are much easier to track down, enabling police not only to recover the vehicle but also to apprehend the thief in most cases. Most of the transmitters are small enough to fit discreetly in an out of the way place that isn’t obvious in order to avoid detection by the would-be thief. Some are magnetic and can be positioned under the car. Once the transmitter has been activated, it sends signals to your computer allowing you to view the location of your car in real time. Some devices also allow you to monitor fuel usage and speed for more accurate clues as to the thief’s course of action.

In high theft areas, some police departments have begun placing “bait vehicles” that have been equipped with GPS vehicle tracking units. Once a thief nabs the car, officers can apprehend him almost immediately, taking another criminal off the streets and hopefully preventing actual thefts from taking place. This idea has also been put in place for the 2010 Winter Olympics in hopes of preventing a portion of the rise in crime that generally accompanies big events and large crowds.

With the potential for auto theft incidences to be reduced by half due to GPS vehicle tracking, it just makes sense for car owners to make sure their cars are equipped with the technology. Next to your home, your car is probably the most expensive asset you own. Locks and alarms can help, but they’ve proven inefficient in deterring criminals. GPS vehicle tracking puts you in control of your car so that even if a thief succeeds in disabling your security measures, you can still make sure he is apprehended and your vehicle is returned to you.

GPS Tracking ATMs in Europe

February 11th, 2010

By Harriette Halepis

Earth Times.org, February 2009, Athens Greece – Police in Athens, Greece, are puzzled at the recent ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) attacks that have been occurring within the country over the past year. Robbers have been attempting to rob ATMs of as much cash as possibly by breaking into the machines. In fact, the European Network estimates that “…physical attacks to ATMs in Europe increased in the period between September 2008 and August 2009 by 32%…(Earth Times).”

GPS & ATM

In order to combat these attacks, Mellon Technologies in conjunction with Easy Systems is offering the Greek government the help of some very sophisticated GPS trackers. These trackers will be installed on various ATMs throughout Greece (and other countries). Not only will the trackers be able to pinpoint the exact location of an ATM, but they will also be able to detect temperature of shock changes.

In other words, if a thief attempts to crack into an ATM with a crowbar, those ATMs outfitted with GPS trackers will alert authorities right away. With the help of security cameras that are already installed on most ATMs, police should be able to find thieves within a matter of moments. The GPS trackers in question can be installed on any kind of ATM (regardless of model, size, or manufacturer), which means that nearly every ATM in Europe can now be tracked.

ATMs are also targeted throughout North America, though the number of ATM break-ins in North America is not nearly as high as the number of break-ins throughout Europe. In most North American instances, thieves tend to rob ATM customers, though most machines are left in-tact. In Europe, the opposite seems to be true, since many ATM customers never face a thief, though some thieves have attempted to move entire machines.

The reasoning behind these recent ATM attacks is relatively unknown, though many speculate that it has to do with the recent economy. Many countries within Europe have been thoroughly impacted by tough financial times, and this often leads to crime. Many European countries are hoping that the new GPS tracking systems will deter thieves from attacking ATMs, though the result of this new system will not be revealed until next year. The GPS trackers will be installed throughout Europe within the next few months.

Away in a Manger — and Not Going Anywhere

December 15th, 2009

By Harriette Halepis

Every year across the globe, public nativity scenes, holiday decorations, and Menorahs are stolen. While towns and cities try desperately to bolt, glue, and tie these items down, vandals always find a way to snatch them – until the dawn of the GPS Tracking system, that is.

GPS & Live Nativity Shows

BrickHouse Security provided free GPS Tracking systems to various religious institutions across the nation in 2008 — three institutions took the company up on its offer. Not a single piece of straw was stolen from the Grahm Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. Ambrose Church, or St. Mark’s Episcopal Church’s manger scenes. In short, the GPS Tracking system was a great success – only, BrickHouse hopes that more religious outfits will take advantage of the systems this year.

While BrickHouse felt great that they were “…able to report 100% success in protecting these cherished items…many institutions didn’t know about the program and experienced thefts of vandalism (PRWeb).” This year, the company plans to add motion-activated camera surveillance equipment to various holiday scenes throughout the country, the only question is: will more religions institutions take BrickHouse up on its generous offer?

As holiday vandalism increases each year, the need to protect religious holiday items is greater than ever before. While bolts, nails, rope, and glue may not prevent these items from being stolen, GPS Trackers and surveillance cameras are bound to get the job done.