Rocky Mountain Tracking » theft

FBI Predicts Robbery Before It Takes Place

Khristen Foss — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:13:43 +0000

In an extremely odd series of events, two bank robbers were shot and killed after holding up a Ravenna, MI bank. What’s odd about it? For starters, the FBI called Muskegon County dispatch a little over 15 minutes prior to the actual robbery, telling them that the suspects might be robbing one of their banks and to keep an eye out, and to call the FBI in the event of a robbery. Wait, what?

It’s hard to follow along with, but here’s what went down. FBI Resident Agent in Charge John King based in Grand Rapids, MI placed a call to the dispatch center at 10:20 am on October 13^th. He introduced himself, and said, “We are right now tracking a couple of individuals up in the Muskegon County area around Ravenna.

And so, if there happens to be a bank robbery come out, can you make sure we end up getting a phone call?” Yes, that quote is taken from the actual phone call to dispatch. The dispatcher asked King for a vehicle description, for obvious reasons. They could not say for certain, but the FBI believed the suspects, Derryl LaFave and Kristopher Cheyne, were driving around in a black Blazer that they had stolen the day prior.

Upon reviewing the tapes, it is evident the FBI knew that the suspects were in the area with great certainty. “We’ve got a couple individuals we’ve been tracking that we think are responsible for a couple other bank robberies down south and they’ve been putzing around in Ravenna the last couple of days,” King said to the dispatcher. Even with this information, the FBI could offer no help in determining which bank would be the suspects’ target.

How, exactly, did the FBI even know they were there? Pat Harig, FBI Task Force member, explains to dispatch, “Without putting this on the air, we have GPS on the vehicle and on a phone. We do not need that on the air.”

The robbers made their move, robbing ChoiceOne bank at 10:36, a mere 16 minutes after the call to dispatch, with FBI agents on their tail – not literally, however. The agent was actually ahead of the robbers, who had ditched the Blazer for a blue Oldsmobile Bravada. The suspects headed south with agents ahead of them, and in Ottawa County, their luck ran out. Agents caught up to them and the suspects began shooting at officers, continuing to drive, and running over local police officer Trevor Slot. It was at this point officers shot and killed the suspects.

Of course, none of this information came out right away. When suspects and officers are killed, there is always a lengthy investigation. However, knowing that both the Michigan police officers and the FBI agents all had the common goal of keeping the residents safe, one would think that the FBI could have been a little more forthcoming with information that could have helped put an end to this situation before it escalated to the level it did. Maybe if they had worked together from the start, the deaths could all have been avoided and the suspects would be facing a judge for their many crimes.

Photo by Carsten Lorentzen through Flickr Creative Commons

Laptop Theft Lesson Number One: Don’t Check Facebook

Admin — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:42:09 +0000

A Kentucky man is charged with theft after stealing a laptop from the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center, all because he was checking Facebook on the stolen device equipped with GPS tracking capabilities.

The victim placed a call to police around 10pm on October 11^th stating that his laptop had been stolen. Officers arrived to the Expo Center, and the victim stated he could be of some assistance: his laptop had a GPS tracking device for this very reason. Not only could he discover where exactly the laptop was at any given time, he could also see whatever was open on the screen.

In this case, the victim could see that 47-year old Alton C. Guntzviller was logged onto his Facebook page, making the arrest a simple one. The address came through leading police directly to Guntzviller, already knowing in advance that he was the suspect in question. They also learned that Guntzviller was employed as a security guard at the Expo Center.

Police arrived to his Hillcross Drive home and found him outside on the front porch. He provided his identification when asked, and immediately confessed to his crime early on during questioning, returning the laptop to police.

Article Written by Khristen Foss

Break-ins Cause Wake Up Call

Admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:01:34 +0000

Recent break-ins in West Newbury have alerted residents to the need to protect themselves and their homes. Local communities have seen more home and car break-ins recently than in the past years.

The Crimes
The three most recent crimes all occurred within the same week, and according to Police Sgt. Dan Cena, the crimes took place in the afternoon. Suspects entered through windows in the rear of the homes. In one case, the window was broken. In all three crimes, the thieves escaped with valuable electronics and jewelry from the home. The thieves did not leave any prints.
Protective Measures
Police officers urge residents to take all possible precautions against break-ins. Residents should keep all doors and windows locked. If they do not already have an alarm system installed, residents should purchase one and make sure the alarm is turned on whenever they leave the home.
Residents should lock up firearms, jewelry, and credit cards in a safe. They should also keep paperwork that shows the serial numbers of their expensive electronics, so they can be tracked in case of theft. Residents should also be sure to photograph any jewelry and have expensive items insured under their homeowner’s policy.
Cena also warns residents against posting information about a vacation to their Facebook account or other online venue. Even a post about going shopping or going out for dinner could alert a thief that the property will be vacant for a few hours.
Police Assistance
Cena also encourages residents who will be away from home for an extended period of time to inform the police station and have their home placed on an “away listing.” Then the police officers will be able to check these homes regularly to make sure everything is secure. Residents who want to be put on the away listing should inform the police station of the dates they will be away, any vehicles they will leave in the driveway, any lights that they will leave on, and any people who are expected to be on the property.
Protecting the Community
The police station encourages the entire community to be watchful and to report anything that seems out of the ordinary. Cena assures the residents that police officers would rather be alerted of a possible problem that turns out to be nothing than to have more break-ins. Residents who see suspicious vehicles should right down information about the car, such as the license plate number and the make and model, as well as a description of the people inside.

Thieves Break Into Apartment While Girls Sleep

Admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:00:46 +0000

We often write articles about thieves here at RMT. But, every once in awhile, a thief story comes along that’s just too hard to pass up. Some of these stories are silly while others are just plain amazing. One such article recently came across our news desk. The story takes place in Australia, but it could have happened anywhere in the world.

Three female roommates were sleeping soundly one night. So soundly that they didn’t hear three thieves break into their apartment. As the girls slept, the thieves cleaned out the apartment making away with electronics, iPhones, and even bedroom sheets. When one of the sleeping beauties awoke, she noticed that her apartment was barren. Shocked, she awoke her other roommates.

In a bit of a daze, one of the girls remembered that she had activated the “Find My iPhone” GPS tracking app on her iPhone. A close friend (who was visiting at the time of the robbery), entered the iPhone ID into the online app site. Shortly thereafter, the exact location of the thieves was revealed. The girls contacted authorities and just “…wanted the cops to go bust their door down.”

While the police didn’t “bust down” any doors, authorities did apprehend the thieves after some questioning. The stolen iPhone (and all other stolen goods) were retrieved and given back to the girls who are (incidentally) now looking for a new place to live.

Article Written by Harriette Halepis

Retrieving Stolen Property Using GPS Tracking

Admin — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:00:30 +0000

You know the sinking feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you know your home or car has been broken into? When you something you own has been stolen? With GPS tracking, you can have peace of mind that your goods will be recovered. The most important thing to remember is not to take the law into your own hands; you should always call the police.

Once you know where your belongings are, especially if it is nearby, you may be tempted to try to retrieve your property on your own; however, this can be highly dangerous. You may know where your stuff is, but you do not know the individual or individuals who have it. It could be a prankster youth dared by his peers to steal something, or it could be a gang’s initiation rite for a new member. You may get more than you bargained for if you take the law into your own hands. The solution to your problem is to call the police; they have the manpower and the know-how to retrieve your stolen property without the high risk. And you need to notify them immediately.

Statistics show that the more time that elapses after a theft, the less likely you are to retrieve your property; however, if your item was fitted with a GPS tracking device, then you are able to immediately provide law enforcement with the exact coordinates of your property and most likely the exact location of the thief. With just a physical description and general outline of events, police are more likely to go to more pressing or urgent cases and come back to a stolen goods case; however, it may be too late. With GPS coordinates, police are more likely to get on the case right away and try to locate your valuables before they are sold on the black market.

Although most cell phones and cars today come equipped with GPS tracking technology, there are so many more valuable items that you can be rest assured about. Computers, televisions, furniture, and photographic equipment can all be fitted with location devices that almost guarantee a quick return if stolen. In this age of modern technology, such systems can even be programmed to alert owners via phone and email that their property has been moved; you can know even before the thief is out of the house and then notify the police before he is to his car. Thieves don’t stand a chance against GPS tracking.

Article Written by Hilary Mayfield

Police Track iPad Theif: Other Stolen Goods Found

Admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:22:50 +0000

As GPS tracking technology evolves and becomes more sophisticated, thieves must also improve their game to avoid being caught. It’s pretty likely these days that a stolen item may be able to be tracked, which means that the criminal is basically giving police a written invitation to his home. One not-so-savvy Orlando criminal broke into a car to steal an iPad, unaware that the device was equipped with GPS tracking software.

He made it easy for police to find him, first at one residence and then after he took off, they followed the GPS signal to his home and arrested him there for auto theft. While searching his residence, along with the iPad, they also recovered a set of tires from an auto burglary and he was arrested and charged with third-degree grand theft and burglary of a conveyance.
GPS has proven very useful to prevent theft and deter criminal activity in a variety of businesses and industries – anything from retail establishments to universities to construction to auto dealerships and fleet owners. Law enforcement may be one of the biggest beneficiaries because of the ability it gives them to be, in a sense, where they can’t be. Resources are usually tight for local police departments, but GPS tracking allows them to monitor parolees or suspects and limit their movement as well as to track and recover stolen property and arrest suspects.
In a similar case, a teenager set up the “Find My iPhone” feature on his phone which allows users to find their phones and also wipe out personal information if the phone is stolen. His actions paid off because the phone was stolen from his father’s car in Colorado and he was able to track his phone using the software. Not only did he help police to recover his phone, but the trail led to an infamous family of criminals, and quite possibly recovered other stolen merchandise in the process.
Crime prevention and recovery of stolen goods is gaining ground as GPS technology is utilized by law enforcement around the country. This very cost effective solution gives a great advantage over old fashioned police work by taking the guesswork out of many scenarios. It also frees up funds for investigations that require someone to be on the scene. The initial investment is low and while there are monthly fees, they are not exorbitant, especially compared to the payoff.

New Report: Top 10 Places in USA For Car Theft

Admin — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:00:43 +0000

The National Insurance Crime Bureau has just released its “Top Ten Places In the USA for Auto Theft” report. Eight of the top ten places targeted most by car thieves are in California. If you live in a few rural parts of the sunny state, it’s time to purchase that GPS tracking device you’ve been eyeing.

Here’s the list of the worst places to leave a shiny new car:

1. Fresno, Calif.

2. Modesto, Calif.

3. Bakersfield-Delano, Calif.

4. Spokane, Wash.

5. Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif.

6. Sacramento/Arden-Arcade/Roseville, Calif.

7. Stockton, Calif.

8. Visalia-Porterville, Calif.

9. San Francisco/Oakland/Fremont, Calif.

10. Yakima, Wash.

Seemingly, California is not the only state with a high car theft rate. Yakima, Washington, also made the list.

You Can Track Your Phone, But Who Will Track It Down?

Admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:00:14 +0000

A Jacksonville, Florida, resident, Monica Friel, lost her iPhone one night last week. Friel remembered leaving her phone in the backseat of a taxi. Trying not to panic, she remembered that she had installed all necessary GPS tracking apps. So, she sat down at the nearest computer and traced her iPhone to a hotel room.

Unsure of what to do next, Friel called her local police department. The response that Friel got from the police officer who answered the phone was less than desirable. Instead of saying that dispatch would send a police officer out to retrieve her phone right away, Friel was told “oh yeah, sorry, that’s too bad.”

After some investigation into the story, press discovered that the Jacksonville P.D. simply doesn’t have the time to chase down iPhone thieves. Whether or not an iPhone is equipped with a GPS tracking device seems to be irrelevant. As one spokesperson for the Jacksonville department stated, the police “simply don’t have the time or the resources to pinpoint where these items are.”

So, what’s a citizen who’s tracking a stolen item to do? Some citizens are taking matters into their own hands. Needless to say, chasing down a thief is dangerous. Yet, it may be the only option that people like Monica Friel have.

The other option is to forget about the stolen device – hard to do when a simple phone can cost more than $500.

Police still warn citizens not to chase thieves, but, for the time being, a stolen electronic device “…isn’t high-priority.”

Article Written by Harriette Halepis

Police Track Getaway Vehicle with GPS

Admin — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:00:22 +0000

Kevin Cheeks was convicted in Queens Supreme Court for holding up the Shinki Nail Salon in Oakland Gardens, Queens. His downfall was using a distinctive company-owned getaway vehicle. The vehicle was an ambulette equipped with a GPS tracking system, which police used to locate and arrest him.

Sigma Transportation Inc. employed Kevin Cheeks, a 44-year-old repeat offender, for a grand total of two months before this incident. Cheeks used his day off to rob the nail salon. According to witnesses, he pretended to have a gun in his pocket and forced three employees and four customers to the back of the salon. He proceeded to take $300 from the cash register, as well as his hostages’ valuables.

One of the employees took advantage of an opportunity to escape when Cheeks realized he’d left his cellphone behind and went back for it. Even after the Cheeks threatened to kill anyone who called for help, this employee bravely escaped to a nearby diner and report the robbery. The employee spotted Cheeks walking past the restaurant and drive away in a van marked “Sigma ambulette number 16.”

Apparently, Kevin Cheeks was unaware that most ambulettes are equipped with a GPS tracking system, a detail that the police had not missed. They tracked the vehicle, which confirmed that his van was near the salon during the robbery. The tracking records showed he then traveled to The Bronx and then home, to South Ozone Park. Police were waiting at his company garage in West Hempstead, LI, where he finally returned the vehicle and was arrested.

Defense attorney, Richard Brown said, “the defendant will have a long time behind bars to ponder how a simple GPS vehicle-tracking device and a few mouse clicks led to his arrest and conviction.” The evidence from the GPS tracking service, along with video surveillance from the salon was presented during Cheek’s week long trial, where the jury took a mere two hours to convict him. He will be sentenced next month, where he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor

Idaho Thief Caught by GPS

Admin — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:00:04 +0000

A thief on the run on Idaho was brought down by one small town resident after the use of GPS technology helped pinpoint the exact whereabouts of the stolen goods.

According to the Bonner County Daily Bee, a man in Sandpoint, Idaho had discovered his smartphone missing along with a snowboard and other items after waking up to a break-in of his sport utility vehicle.

When the man arrived at his car, the criminal and his contents were long gone but the quick thinking man remembered that his smartphone is equipped with a feature that uses GPS technology to signal whenit’s been lost or stolen.

Therefore he was able to track it down using his laptop computer. Sandpoint Police took the lead and followed the GPS location coordinates, which took them to the exact spot of the criminal and the stolen goods in question. Sandpoint Police pointed out the criminal and the stolen good were a mere five blocks from where the crime had taken place, but without the GPS technology there would have been no way of knowing otherwise.

The Daily Bee also reported that when the police arrived, they discovered stolen goods from a number of other unsolved crimes in the neighborhood, allowing them to close a number of cases that evening from the high end technology of the area man’s satellite enhanced device.

Article Written by Greg Minton