Rocky Mountain Tracking » theft prevention

Idaho Copper Thief Nabbed Thanks to GPS

Khristen Foss — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:00:32 +0000

In today’s age of economic woes, copper theft is on the rise. The high price of copper coupled with desperation on the part of thieves has led to problems all over the country related to its theft: tornado warning sirens failing to sound due to thieves stealing the copper wiring which power them, power outages due to stripped transformers which also rely on copper wiring, and inoperable wells and pumps on desert farms who rely on these wires to bring much needed water to their crops. Contractors all over the country are experiencing thefts from their incomplete homes, an easy target for thieves as there is no one home to stop them, doors or windows often left unlocked.

Officers in Burley, Idaho decided to do something about it and began embedding GPS tracking devices right into the wiring which led to a recent arrest in Cassia County. Sheriff Randy Kidd reports Jorge Ernest Castillo, 38 of Burley, along with a 15-year-old accomplice were arrested for alleged grand theft thanks to the GPS locating device and “good old law enforcement.” The copper he stole was worth an estimated $1,200.

Kidd, in a press release, calls out would-be thieves and tells them to beware: “Let this be a warning to potential copper thieves, the next roll of wire that you take may be the one that has our tracker embedded in it and you will be next.”

Officers planted a spool of copper wire complete with GPS device in a rural area in Cassia County as bait to attract a thief. After a period of time, officers were alerted that the spool was on the move, around 5:24pm. They followed the signal given out by the embedded device and were led directly to the suspect’s car. The arrest of Castillo and his accomplice is the second arrest attributed to the location device in the last two years.

Kidd stated he planned to use these devices as much as his budget would afford, as the department must not only pay for the $800 device itself, but for the activation of the tracking system as well. Kidd feels these tracking devices are the most effective tool they could possibly rely on to capture copper thieves.

Castillo is being held at the Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The minor was released to his parents.

GPS Now Viable as a Theft Prevention Method

John Chapman — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:00:23 +0000

It wasn’t very long ago that the idea of a handheld device that could show you exactly where you were on the planet, down to a range of ten feet or so, was revolutionary. Next, that technology was incorporated into a tracking system consisting of a transmitter (attached to the thing you wanted to track) and a receiver, that showed you on a display exactly where the tracked object was. This tracking system is now used in multiple fields, from keeping tabs on paroled convicts, to monitoring use of city-owned vehicles, to checking up on teenagers whose use of the family car may push the boundaries of parental guidelines. Now, one GPS device manufacturer is advertising that its trackers are a cost-effective way for retailers to combat theft.

At first, placing a GPS tracker on individual items in case someone steals them might seem grossly inefficient. After all, these devices are still relatively pricey. But exceptionally expensive items, like vehicles, cutting-edge electronics, and jewelry, just might be good candidates for tracker installation. The manufacturer, GPS Intelligence, advertises trackers that are smaller than ever before, making them easy to hide and hard for a thief to notice and dispose of. If a store owner can pull up a map showing the current location of a stolen item, his chances of recovering it and/or helping police capture and prosecute the thief are very good. In addition, notifying the public that GPS trackers are in use would be a powerful deterrent to professional shoplifters looking for an easy target.

Another valuable use for retailers is tracking shipments and containers, rather than individual products. Organized crime groups sometimes steal entire shipments en route from factories and distribution centers to stores. If these shipments contain a large number of expensive products, the loss can be devastating for its owners. A single GPS tracker hidden inside a shipment could allow its owner to keep an eye on its progress and recognize immediately if it was being taken off its original route. Quick action by police would recover the stolen goods as long as they could find them before the thieves discarded the GPS tracker.

Executives at GPS Intelligence, LLC, an Arizona-based tracker manufacturer, hope that by informing retailers of this valuable application of their products, they can sell more of their devices and help make a dent in the annual retail loss rate—currently estimated in the billions of dollars.

GPS Provides Evidence in Rhode Island Car Theft Case

Admin — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:00:33 +0000

Authorities in Little Compton, Rhode Island, have been trying to track down two car thieves since Christmas Eve. On Thursday, December 30, police were able to apprehend the car thieves after the thieves attempted another car theft early Thursday morning. Instead of getting away with another car, the thieves were frightened off by the car’s owner.

As luck would have it, the two thieves were pulled over by patrolman Jay Harris for speeding moments after the attempted robbery. After receiving word of the theft, Harris questioned the two suspects about the attempted robbery. Both Robert Dallaire and Gilbert Dallaire denied having anything to do with the reported attempted car theft – that’s when officer Harris noticed the GPS navigation system inside of the stopped vehicle.

Unfortunately for the Daillaires, the GPS system inside of the stopped car was set to navigate to the last known destination, which happened to be the scene of the attempted car theft. The two suspects were immediately taken into police custody. Upon searching the Dallaires’ vehicle, police found an array of radar detectors, GPS systems, MP3 players, and various other electronic devices. Presently, the Little Compton Police Department is investigating this case.

While GPS trackers can get people out of trouble, they can also come in handy when it comes to capturing criminals (as Robert Dallaire and Gilbert Dallaire discovered).

Article Written by Harriette Halepis

Preventing Theft

RMT GPS News — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:37:47 +0000

By Greg Bartlett

Some of your friends accuse you of being paranoid, but you ignore them mostly, at least. You know that there have been outbreaks of burglaries and car thefts in your neighborhood recently, so it’s only reasonable to take steps to protect yourself and your possessions.

Step one. You got an alarm system. Helpful, especially when combined with your furry alarm system which barks any time someone comes near the door. Come to think of it, your dog is a valuable, too, plus if it gets lost or stolen it won’t be able to do its job of guarding the door so fiercely. So you add a GPS tracking device to the dog’s collar, making sure that if the dog leaves your property you will be alerted instantly and will be able to monitor your pet until you retrieve it.

Step two. You always keep your doors locked at night, and have lights on in the yard, but you just added an extra precaution in case someone sneaks into your garage. Your new car, the one you spent three years saving for, now is equipped with a GPS vehicle tracking unit. If your car is moved during the night, you’ll be alerted. You can follow its progress and find out where it is, what stops it’s made, and how fast it’s going. Police should be able to recover it quickly with the GPS tracking information keeping such close tabs on your vehicle.

Step three. Just in case someone gets past your alarm system and befriends your dog before you awake, you add GPS tracking units to some of your more expensive and likely to be stolen possessions. Your TV, for instance, and other electronics which attract thieves. Since the GPS devices are small and unobtrusive, they won’t disrupt your use of the items and thieves probably couldn’t locate one on your possessions in the short time they would have to load everything up and escape. Even if you’re out of town, you’ll receive a text message, phone call, or email if your possessions are moved and can, like one homeowner did, call police instantly and have your possessions recovered and the burglars arrested.

Right now, you don’t feel the need to take any further steps to protect yourself. You already have some self-defense knowledge and with that, basic safety precautions, and the GPS tracking devices on your possessions, you feel pretty safe and free to ignore your friends’ laughter.

How to Protect Your Business from Incidents of Theft

RMT GPS News — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:51:02 +0000

by James Neely - freelance writer for hire

You work hard to build up your business and make it an independent and viable operation. This is one of the reasons that it is so frustrating when items are stolen right out from under your nose (so to speak). That is why a GPS Tracking system makes sense for large assets in small businesses.

Crime Prevention with GPS Tracking

Recovering from incidents of theft should be your focus. Taking the emotion out of the situation is difficult, but must be done in order to maintain your drive to get answers and get your assets returned. This is true especially if you have a large project that you are working on and now you are without the equipment you need to complete that project. That is pure frustration on display. That is why GPS Tracking is a tool that you cannot live without in your business.

Police agencies will help you to a point, but let’s be real here: there are more important cases upon which they will be spending their time. And, burglary is not at the top of the list. While time goes by, leads in the case get colder and colder and the chances of finding and bringing the perpetrators to justice begin to fade. This means that in order to protect your business from taking a financial hit from the incidents of theft you must institute a GPS Tracking system.

With the purchase and installation of these devices, you can with pin-point accuracy locate your possession and give that information to the local authorities for easy recovery. And, police agencies would rather recover items as soon as possible in order to close cases.

Another benefit from GPS Tracking devices is that you can save money on your business insurance policies. Since your assets can be tracked, they are more likely recovered in a manner that keeps insurance companies losses to a minimum. And for that, you are rewarded with lower monthly premiums. It makes sense and we wonder how long it will be before all insurance companies begin to demand GPS Tracking devices be installed on all insured property.

You can choose your model for greater flexibility. If you need real-time coverage from your GPS Tracking devices, you can obtain those units. Or, if only periodic tracking is needed there are those models, too. You have the ability to locate assets when needed.

The cost of these units is surprisingly low. Just a few hundred dollars separates you from the ability to secure your assets in the fight against theft. You will be happy that you made this investment.

GPS Aids in Catching Thieves

RMT GPS News — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:25:26 +0000

By Harriette Halepis

If Bonnie and Clyde were around today, their crime crusade wouldn’t have lasted past the first store robbery. With the innovation of modern technology comes a whole new kind of crime fighter: the GPS tracking system.

A Corpus Christi Surprise While there’s nothing new about a common purse snatching, a woman in Corpus Christi has found a new way of tracking purse snatchers. After her purse was stolen, the Texas native used her wits (and her cell phone) to track down the thieves.

Following the purse snatching, the woman returned to her home to use the GPS software that she had installed on her personal computer. This software was directly connected to her cell phone, which happened to be inside of the stolen purse.

After contacting police, she gave authorities an approximate location of her phone, which she believed to be inside of a residential home. As police spoke to the owner of the home, the woman called her cell phone. Once police heard the cell phone ringing, they then questioned the homeowner about the stolen bag.

Even though the homeowner in question claims that he purchased the bag from a street seller, the victim was able to get her purse (and her phone) back. Presently, no charges have been pressed, but this story is bound to make thieves think twice before grabbing a purse and running.

Other Ways to Track Your Belongings:

Connecting your cell phone to GPS tracking software is a great way to ensure that your phone will never be lost (or stolen). In addition, there are other ways that you can use GPS technology to your advantage. If you want to make sure that your beloved items never go missing, think about purchasing a GPS tracker.

Placing a small GPS tracker inside of your personal belongings (such as a purse) will guarantee that no thief will get away with stealing any of your items. While a cell phone can be easily removed from any purse or backpack, most thieves won’t consider searching for a GPS tracker.

Many GPS trackers that are on the market today are extremely small and thin. This means that the majority of trackers are virtually undetectable. Place one inside of your clothes, in your car, or on anything that you want to keep out of harm’s way. While police are great at catching thieves, the woman from Corpus Christi has proven that nothing beats precise GPS tracking technology.

It is a Bad Time to Be a Thief – GPS Tracking Systems are Watching

RMT GPS News — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:49:33 +0000

by James Neely - freelance writer

If there were ever a bad time to be a thief, now is the time. Think about all of the monitoring that goes on in our society. Street corners now have cameras and all major retailers are equipped with multiple cameras – both in their stores as well as in the parking lots. And the list goes on.

Chances are higher than ever that if you steal what is not yours, you will be caught. In fact, another system that is making criminals pay for their crimes is the GPS Tracking devices that are used in many areas of our communities.

Vehicle tracking. Knowing where your vehicle is located and how it is being driven (speed, direction, location) are invaluable pieces of information that can be passed to the proper authorities if it becomes stolen. You can get your car back in a matter of hours, not days or months, with a GPS Tracking device properly attached and operational.

Large construction equipment tracking. Ever wonder what happens to large construction equipment that is stolen? There is a large portion that gets stolen and is never recovered. Not with a GPS Tracking device, however.

Boats and RVs. More and more of these items are being targeted by thieves in order to sell and raise cash for on the black market. Yes, recovery is possible, but how long before it takes place and what condition will the item be in once it is recovered?

Motorcycles. Easy targets because all of the controls are external, motorcycles are big targets by thieves. Keep yours under constant watch with a GPS Tracking device.

Short of asking before an item is stolen, there is no way that a perpetrator will know what will befall them if they steal merchandise that is not properly paid for or does not belong to them. That is the beauty of using GPS Tracking devices. It makes for interesting video to see the looks on their faces when the police show up to arrest them.

Yet, still the thefts occur. And with regularity in the locations that are heavily trafficked and are outfitted with cameras. GPS Tracking units add to the security as well. It is almost unbelievable, but proves that the best thing that you can do is to protect yourself and your family and home. Finding a GPS Tracking device that will help you is a big step in the right direction.

GPS Keeps Track of Baby Jesus

RMT GPS News — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:28:03 +0000

Each year churches all over the country greet the holiday season by displaying nativity scenes. And every year people steal the baby Jesus from these nativity scenes. Ever hopeful and ever optimistic, churches continue to put out these holiday displays with the hope that no one will tamper with the nativity scene.

Now some churches have decided to do more than hope: they are using GPS tracking technology to keep track of the star of their holiday displays.

Two years ago one town actually chained the baby in their display with the hopes that this would help keep it there. But to no avail, a teenager liberated the baby from the chains and made off with it. What she did not know was that the church had placed a GPS tracking device on the baby Jesus. Law enforcement officials were able to trace the missing doll and she was at first charged with a felony, but was later given a lesser punishment.

GPs tracking can help you keep up with all kinds of property, be it a vehicle, a package or a very special doll. GPS tracking devices are unobtrusive, so they are not bulky nor do they draw attention to themselves. If need be, you can get a GPS tracking device with a pay-per-use plan that allows you to only incur costs when you decide you want to use it…be in the month of December of two weeks in July or whenever.

The RMT Smart Track solution has a geo-fence that reports each time your asset moves in or out of a predetermined area from 1/8th of a mile to 300 miles. So if you have a certain object (say a doll) that for any reason may need to be moved on a certain property, you can decide just when you want to be alerted. Up to 2 geo fences can be set at one time. These geo-fences can be either rectangular or circular with reporting based upon whether the device is inside or outside the geo-fence area or when it has simply crossed the geo-fence boundary.

As much as law enforcement is supposed to help, it is sad truth that in the world we live in, the theft of your asset may not be their priority. With a GPS tracking device, you can make sure that you are informed about the location of your property.

GPS Tracking Recovers Stolen Property

RMT GPS News — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:08:58 +0000

A Cincinnati paper recently reported that a local man found himself behind bars after the police were able to find the truck he had stolen because it contained a GPS tracking device. The truck was not taken from a residence, but from a commercial enterprise.

The estimated value of the stolen truck was $100,000. And that was just the vehicle be itself. On top of that, there was about $70,000 worth of tools in that truck. When you factor in lost revenue, time and energy because the company would be short one of their vehicles, which they’d have to replace, plus the threat of higher insurance rates that looms any time you make a claim, you can see how the loss of this truck could end up being very expensive.

GPS tracking devices can help keep your property where you want it. If someone tries to take it, you will be able to find it quickly. Time is of the essence when it comes to matters like this. In this instance, the thief was a substance abuser and he may have damaged the truck by driving recklessly. In other instances, the thief is well aware of the value of the stolen property and will not waste time in selling off parts to the highest bidder.

If you are a business owner who counts on vehicles and equipment to get the job done, by all means get auto insurance. But you should also invest in GPS vehicle recovery devices. The insurance is valuable and necessary, but it helps after the fact. A GPS tracking device can assist you in making sure you don’t need to file an insurance claim.