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Thieves snatching cell phones isn’t anything new. In fact, it happens all the time, which is why Covia Labs devised a GPS-tracking app for iPhone. It just so happens that while one of Covia’s employees was testing the app, a thief rode by on a bicycle and stole her iPhone.

Covia couldn’t have asked for better advertising, since the iPhone that was stolen was running the GPS-tracking app at the time that it was taken. Within moments, Covia employees were able to locate the phone, call police, and the thief was apprehended. Covia CEO, David Kahn, liked the theft to a “…bank robber who arrive during the security test.”

GPS trackers have been responsible for locating numerous stolen phones over the past few years. Thanks to a GPS tracker, Long Island police were able to locate fourteen stolen phones that were stolen from a public works department. In addition, many cell phone companies now include GPS tracking applications just in case a phone is stolen.  These apps must be turned on so as more and more stories surface like this one, you can bet people are turning on their tracking capabilities.

Even though a cell phone user must have a GPS tracking application in order to track a stolen phone, these applications are quickly becoming the norm. Other personal objects such as computers and purses are also becoming difficult for thieves to abscond with, since individuals can now place a GPS tracking device inside of nearly anything. While snatching a phone or purse from an unsuspecting victim used to be child’s play, thieves are quickly discovering that technology is making their work tougher – too bad!

(Source acquired via Wired.com, July 30, 2010.  Written by Harriette Halepis for Rocky Mountain Tracking, Inc.)

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From Indianapolis comes news that more people have been arrested in a wide-spread auto theft ring operating in central Indiana. The thieves had stolen 68 vehicles and replaced the VINs and titles with phony ones to be able to license and sell them to unsuspecting customers. The vehicles were hidden in storage units and apartment and garages as well as with their new, unsuspecting owners who had purchased them from the suspects.

Who thinks about checking a VIN on a vehicle that you are going to purchase? No one really. So you purchase a car that is rightfully someone else’s and now you make payments on what? A complicated sort of affairs involving lawyers ensues. This scenario could have been mitigated with the installation of GPS Tracking devices.

Consider that if consumers and dealers alike caught on to how effective GPS Tracking is for vehicles, then there would be more of them and they would help owners recover from theft much sooner.

GPS Tracking Fights Car Thieves

Here are the important ways that GPS Tracking deters car thieves:

Location Monitoring

Ever wonder where your car is located? Maybe not yet, but you might eventually. This is true if you have a teenage driver in your house. Or, a spouse that you suspect is not being faithful. You can use a GPS Tracking device to verify not only location, but truthfulness about the locations of the drivers. How you use this information is up to you, but it can help bring closure to many domestic situations.

Directional Monitoring

Which direction is your vehicle going? Who is driving? How can you know for sure that it hasn’t been stolen? Looking at the direction of travel on your PC screen is the place to start for answers. After that, it is just a matter of verifying the information by a conversation with the driver(s). Some models of GPS Tracking units have a geo-fencing option which allows you to obtain a text message or email if a vehicle breaks a boundary that you have set.

Speed Monitoring

No one goes the speed limit, right? True, but you need to know if someone is driving your car at excessive speeds. The reason is not only because they can get a ticket or even worse, and accident, but also the wear and tear on your vehicle is unnecessary.

Other Benefits

There are other benefits of outfitting your own vehicle with a GPS Tracking device. Check with your insurance agent about a discount in your insurance premiums. This is an often overlooked money saver. In fact, the savings will eventually pay for the device (depending on which one you purchase).

With all the anti-theft solutions out there, GPS Tracking delivers more value than you expect. Always check your vin numbers on used cars and personally go to the DMV to ensure you are not getting a “fast one” pulled on you and your wallet. It took over one year to solve the case in Indiana due to the sharp eye of an employee in the DMV in that state. One year is a long time to sort out the theft of 68 cars. That is quite a lot of police man hours and investigative detectives skills to sort it out. Don’t let a situation like that enter your family. Buy a GPS tracking device today!

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Truck drivers make their living by driving long hours and transporting large amounts of goods within a state or between states. They are targets for theft because their goods carry significant value. Can you imagine your rather large tractor trailer stolen right from the truck stop while you were dining? It continues to happen, even though safeguards are in place to protect expensive consumer goods traveling cross country.

A GPS tracking system allows a person possessing a GPS-enabled device to track people or possessions that have a GPS device attached to them. The GPS tracking system has twenty-four satellites spread in six orbital spheres above the earth. These satellites provide coverage for virtually every place on earth. The system transmits signals from the satellites to the GPS-enabled device, allowing tracking of a person or possession in real-time. You are able to precisely locate and follow movements through GPS tracking. GPS tracking may be used for historical time. With the assistance of tracking software, you can watch a track later on video and determine the movement of a person or possession.

A GPS tracking system came in handy in a recent theft of a tractor trailer transporting $500,000 worth of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, mostly consisting of vitamins. The Batesville, Arkansas-based truck began its journey in Pennsylvania and journeyed into Virginia where the driver and passenger stopped to eat at a Glade Spring truck stop. It was stolen as they ate inside. The truck driver and passenger later reported they were sure they locked the truck. Washington County Virginia Sheriff’s detective Jaime Blevins tracked the stolen truck using a GPS tracking device placed with the pharmaceutical vitamins. About ninety minutes after the truck was reported stolen, police recovered the truck in Tennessee. Tennessee Highway Patrol officers located the abandoned truck on the side of the road with the cargo left intact. However, the seal on the truck was broken, indicating the robber inspected the goods. The thief abandoned the truck before an interstate truck weighing station so he would avoid inspection by highway officials.

The GPS tracking system set up in the cargo sent signals to Jaime Blevins, his Virginia-based law enforcement partners, and highway officials in Kentucky and Tennessee. Once the truck stopped moving, Tennessee patrolmen recovered the stolen truck. Delay in shipment was the only consequence. They were lucky this thief did not destroy the rig, trailer or the contents. Having GPS tracking find the truck fast prevented further damage of precious goods. Shouldn’t GPS be a part of your delivery process?

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It comes with territory, so to speak, that social networking opens users up to dangerous security issues.  The two sites that are encouraging ‘checking in’ wherever you may be are gowalla.com and foursquare.com.

The first reason that these social networking sites are raising concern is because they encourage users to ‘check in’ which provides your location instantly to those in your group.

The Internet & Security

The second reason is because they are being used improperly by those who sign up.

The positive and great things that smartphone technology has brought us have created a breeding ground for potential hazards.  As with anything, caution is the way to approach these sites.

A social network that encourages you to provide your location is dangerous in that not only do people know where you are, but they also know where you are NOT.  Home comes to mind as the most likely place that you are vulnerable.  Thieves target houses that they know are unoccupied.

And, just because your social network includes only ‘friends’ does not mean that you cannot be targeted.  Social networking sites are not known for their impeccable security methods.

In their defense, site creators issue guidelines on how to use their site and where to use it.  It does not include things like telling your social network that you are at home, in bed, or God forbid, in the bathroom.  You are encouraged to meet up with those in your social network at public places and entertainment venues, etc.  And, they include some already marked out public places.

But, you can add your own, and here’s where the problem of security comes into play.  People are adding their homes, rooms in their homes and even (as mentioned) their beds.  The more users tell people where they are located, the more they give out information on where they are not or, if they are in a place that makes them vulnerable.

One important guideline when using these is to only check in at public places.  Keep your private treks at or from home private.

Also, one last thing to consider is to purchase a GPS Tracking device to help monitor your locations (privately) and add an extra layer of insurance from a security standpoint.  These devices are much less expensive than ever, and you can find a model that will meet your needs.

When opening up yourself to potential invasions of security or privacy it is best to take extra precautions to protect yourself because you never know when you might be the target of some very bad people.

article by James Neely

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by Harriette Halepis

Source acquired via Newser, July 8, 2010 – Public warnings related to Craigslist are nothing new, but this time the warning is coming straight from the New York Police Department. The NYPD has been repeatedly warning the general public to be extra careful when allowing potential buyers to test drive listed cars. Savvy Craigslist listers are quickly finding out that GPS tracking devices can do more than track stolen goods – they can potentially save lives.

Craigslist and Auto Theft

The NYPD has picked up on a recent scam that many within the New York City (and other) area have fallen prey to. By contacting a Craigslist poster, thieves pretend to be interested in various listed automobiles. Then, upon asking to take a car for a test drive, the cars disappear entirely. Most of these vehicles wind up in chop-shops, and some are resold after identifying vehicle information has been altered.

In addition to simply taking a car for a test drive and never returning, the NYPD is also warning Craigslist posters about a new carjacking tool dubbed “the jiggler.”  This tool can be inserted into certain ignitions causing a car to start up automatically. Once a thief notes the location of a Craigslist car for sale, this tool is frequently used to steal any unattended vehicle.

While it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on any car that is listed on Craigslist, it is not a good idea to go along for a test drive. Many thieves are armed and dangerous, and car owners may become injured if a thief decides to steal a car while an owner is present.

A safer option is to install a personal GPS tracking device inside of a vehicle. In the event that a vehicle is stolen, this device will lead owners and authorities directly to the automobile. Not only is a tracking key an effective way to find a stolen car, it’s also a great way to prevent an unsuspecting owner of becoming injured.

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Source acquired via Toronto Sun, July 2, 2010 – The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) recently set up a drug sting operation called “Project Ocaper” that was meant to track down Peruvian drug dealers. What the RCMP discovered was that a fellow RCMP officer stole a brick of fake cocaine along with various other confiscated goods.

Drugs in Bag

Constable Sheldon Cook was found guilty of stealing one brick of fake cocaine and 21 MP3 players from a police building. Cook stole the fake drugs and the MP3 players while he was on duty. What Cook did not know was that RCMP police had filled numerous bags with flour and GPS tracking devices in order to arrest Peruvian drug dealers. When the drug shipment arrived at a Toronto airport (inside boxes of mangoes), police began to track the shipment.

While the GPS trackers that were inside of the fake cocaine shipment stopped working for two days, police were able to track the fake cocaine once the devices began working again. RCMP found the GPS trackers inside of a shipment that was inside of Cook’s home. Cook told a Toronto court that he had been framed by his fellow police officers, though he was found guilty. Cook will be sentenced in Toronto on August 5, 2010.

While the GPS trackers that were inside of the fake cocaine shipment did not work at first (for unknown reasons), the two trackers eventually led police to Cook’s home. Without the help of the GPS tracking devices, Cook would not have been apprehended. The Toronto court that heard Cook’s case did not believe that Cook had been set up by his co-workers. Instead, Judge Casey Hill found that Cook has acted alone when he stole both the fake cocaine and the MP3 players.

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The obvious answer to this question is ‘yes.’  The implementation of GPS Tracking devices has long been at the forefront of privacy discussions.  In fact, there are real dangers that are inherent if the motivation behind their use ever turns to illegal practices.  Even some well-intentioned people allow a measure of privacy invasions to accomplish their goals.

GPS & Privacy Risk

That is why you should recognize the risks and know how to protect your privacy and rights.  Here are the things that you should be aware of regarding this topic.

Using GPS Enabled Cell Phones Compromises Your Privacy

Turning on the feature that you want to use to track your kids in turn makes them vulnerable to outside tracking.  The simple fact that the smartphone is available on the cell system as a GPS device makes it open to attention by prying eyes.  Think before you decide to use it, and then turn the GPS part off (if you can) once you are finished with it.

Your Privacy Can be Breached by Tracking Your Vehicle(s)

Tracking devices can be attached to your cars or trucks without your knowing.  These can be the passive types of trackers, or active ones that show in real-time where you are going and the location of your vehicle.  If you suspect that this is the case, you can perform a thorough inspection of your car to see if there is a device attached.

Your Rights are Secondary to Existing Laws

We all know how important our right to privacy is these days, but it is a simple fact that they are getting trampled upon more and more.  Those who choose to track you can submit any evidence that they obtain in a court of law and it is accepted as factual.  There are those who have tried to prohibit this from happening with no success.  Even though you are supposed to be considered innocent until proven guilty, it doesn’t always work that way.

Tracking is Done Without Your Knowledge or Permission

As mentioned before, you can be tracked without your knowing.  Permission is not required for using GPS Tracking devices for those in the general public.  Private investigators have turned to using them for their own purposes.  Police are required to get a court order before using them, but that does not always happen, either.

Tracking is Occurring Right Now

The GPS signals are everywhere and are difficult to avoid.  It is difficult for them to penetrate some buildings, but some systems also use cellular signals to assist.  On-going tracking is occurring right now for various uses.

Just knowing that they exist can help you navigate the world of gps tracking. Don’t forget that use of gps tracking devices is assisting our courts in monitoring criminals given access to the outside world. The use of these devices is varied and becoming more commonplace. Knowing your rights of privacy is important. We will try to keep you updated in this area. Bookmark this blog and stay “in-the-know”!

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It’s a sign of the times; police are turning up the heat on marijuana users.  On one hand, this is a good thing because this ‘gateway’ drug leads to even more drug use and the evils that infect a society when it runs rampant.  But now, police departments are so strapped for cash that they are increasing their activities to arrest those with the drug so that they can bring in needed revenues to their departments.

Smoke Pot - Get Busted

You will also find increases in patrols to catch and ticket those with simple moving violations such as speeding tickets.

Reasons:

Lower Tax Revenues

Because of high unemployment, decreased tax has caused a financial crunch for most city governments.  Once considered essential services are now being cut in favor of trying to balance the budget.  Police and fire/rescue departments are not immune from these actions, either.  This reality has forced many law enforcement departments to search for alternative ways to fund their budgets.

While technologies like GPS Tracking systems have helped police solve crimes sooner and with fewer resources, even they are not enough to close the short-fall.

Federal Funding for Anti-Drug Programs

One of the main sources of income for departments is from federal programs.  These include ant-drug programs (among others) which help finance the efforts to prosecute illegal drug activities.  Police are turning to these programs in greater numbers by increasing the activities to find and prosecute all activities relating to marijuana use.

By putting an emphasis on prosecuting these activities, the departments get federal funding, while increasing court revenues from cases that are generated.  It’s a win-win for the justice system.

The best and ONLY way to protect yourself from this type of activity is to stay away from drugs – completely.

But, beware of activities like watching more closely for traffic infractions which fall into the same category.  You can protect yourself by always obeying traffic laws.  In addition to this, adding a GPS Tracking device to your vehicle can help you if you are cited for a moving violation.

GPS Tracking devices can help monitor your speed, direction of travel and location.  This information has been deemed admissible in a court of law and can help you defend yourself.

A sane society continues the war on drugs by fighting on a day to day basis in our communities.   A sane citizen protects him/herself by using knowledge and technology to keep from becoming a victim.

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Nanotechnology notwithstanding, many electronic devices are getting so small that it is almost unbelievable.  Consider the cell phone, the watch, and even GPS Tracking devices.

Smaller and Smaller Devices

The need for a small footprint in a tracking device is driven by several factors.

First the smaller size allows one to better conceal a device.  This is important in tracking things and even people.

Some GPS tracking devices are sewn into clothing for children which provides parents a better method for keeping track on their location.

Some of these are hidden in product that is being shipped for the purpose of being able to track it and make sure that it reaches its intended destination.  If it becomes stolen, it serves as a beacon for law enforcement officials for recovery purposes.

Next, the smaller the unit, the less battery consumption takes place which allows it to last longer than larger counterparts.  Consider that cell phone batteries have shrunk to almost nothing, yet provide days of activity between charges.  In small dedicated units the power consumption is not nearly as great a drain on the battery as are cell phones and smart phones.

Some of the products that are being manufactured to meet the demands of smaller applications include the following.

GPS Watches. The ultimate trick for fooling a predator that they have taken or injured someone and think they will never be caught.  But, beyond this is the data capabilities that help athletes and runners track and monitor their workouts and races.

GPS Tracking Devices for Children. Need to keep a closer eye on where your children are and what they are doing?  You can choose one of several products available in this market to accomplish this goal.  What you will find are varying degrees of usability and features as well as pricing.  Is it worth it?  Only you can be the judge.

GPS Tracking Systems for Products. Professional businesses offer these systems to help secure cargo and product shipments to their destination.  Pricing varies by company, but the bottom line is that if you handle expensive and highly sought out product by thieves it can save many hours of frustration and customer relationships.  These are best used with other GPS tracking methods by the shipping industry to help insure that your business runs like it needs to – safely and theft-free.

GPS Tracking for the Banking Industry. Devices are being used and installed into bank bags which allow police to track bank robbers before they even realize that they are being tracked.  More of these devices are being used every day.

GPS Tracking for the Auto Industry. Small devices are installed into vehicles by owners to help track their teen drivers, and make sure that if there is a theft, the vehicle can be recovered quickly.  Also, some auto dealers that finance their own vehicles are using them to locate customers who stop making payments on their cars and trucks.

All of these devices vary in price and even capabilities.  It is best to perform extensive research before making a purchase decision.

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Does anyone doubt the difficulty that parenting in today’s culture imposes?  There are the cell phones – no smartphones, video game consoles, the Internet and other hand-held, portable and all-consuming attention grabbers that vie for a place in kid’s lives.

Family Safety & GPS Tracking

With these devices come dangers from exposing young and innocent lives to very bad people and situations under the disguise of connected acquaintances.  Is it any wonder then that parents need all of the help they can muster?

Sources of Help

Parents need to be as aware of technology as are their children.  This means that studying about the latest trends and arming themselves with information on how to protect kids from the bad that is out there is mandatory.  Here are the minimum requirements that Mom and Dad should look into to protect their families.

Internet monitoring software.

If you are away from your home while kids are at home, they are probably on the Internet.  It’s a matter of time before they come across some very bad things there.  Monitoring software can record and log keystrokes on your PC.  Go here for a review of some of the best offerings.

Ratings on Video Games.

These have been out for a very long time and can help you determine if a game is appropriate for your child, but they are very general.  You also might find that a rating might not be helpful if you have different values from those that rate and recommend games to certain age groups.  The bottom line:  look the game over closely and look for reviews online to give you additional insights.

Security Options on Smartphones.

This is one to watch because the dawn of smartphones will bring with it new security risks.  Smartphones will become like their predecessors of old, the PC, and will have to have security software installed to prevent attacks and the phishing and stealing of information.  There are concerns that you should know about now that will help you be aware of the dangers.

GPS Tracking Devices.

Outfitting your family with these devices is a decision that needs to be made in determining how safe you need to feel.  Adding GPS Tracking units to your vehicles has other benefits, too.  Tracking for location, speed, and direction of travel can help monitor anyone who drives the car.  Small, unobtrusive tracking devices can be used to keep track of where family members go.

Technology can help Mom and Dad in their parenting duties.  GPS Tracking helps a busy family stay safe.  It’s one of the best parenting tools today!

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