Catching Thieves with GPS Trackers

Catching Thieves with GPS Trackers

Today's GPS tracking technology is being used to keep track of people, pets, vehicles, bikes and so much more.  Garmin, TomTom and other like manufacturers have given us much to choose from.  It seems as though the only thing limiting our usage of GPS Trackers, is our own creativity.  It seems as though the only thing limiting our usage of GPS Trackers, is our own imagination.

A popular university in the south has begun using these GPS trackers to reduce bicycle thefts on their campus.  Trackers have been developed for that are about the size of a hide-a-key box and can fit on a bicycle with ease.  The GPS systems are designed to work within designated safe zones.  If a bike gets moved anywhere outside of these specific zones, a text message or email is immediately sent to the bike's owner and within thirty seconds the thief's actions can be monitored online. 

Another exciting GPS application for these trackers has to do with home construction and remodeling.  Typically, during a home construction, appliances, fixtures and items such as water heaters are delivered to the site in preparation of the final install.  Sadly, criminals pray on such sites to steal and resell these brand new appliances and fixtures for quick cash.  Refrigerators, stoves, microwave ovens, dishwashers, hot water heaters, air conditioning units, trash compactors, wine refrigerators, sinks and even toilets are among the items most popular with these criminals.  We now have a solution.  Simply place a small, magnetic GPS device in an inconspicuous place on the appliance or fixture.  If the article is removed, you can track its location on your cell phone or computer, call the police and quickly recover the item while having the thieves apprehended. 

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Believe it or not, a man in Florida was answering ads for appliances being sold privately on Craigslist.  He would contact the owner, get the address where the appliances were, steal them, and then sell them for himself.  He had been making a living in this way for quite some time.  Finally, someone who had advertised a refrigerator for sale, decided to place a small GPS tracker on the unit.  Once the GPS tracker alerted the owner that the appliance had removed from his premises, the owner contacted the police and together they caught and locked up the career criminal.

Similarly, a thief preying on construction sites in California loaded up his van with expensive air conditioning units.  Fortunately he didn't go very far because the site manager had placed some GPS trackers on the units hoping to avoid just such an incident.  Within thirty seconds the manager received a text message that the units were moving.  He contacted the police and the thief was caught red-handed with the a/c units in his possession. 

We have routinely relied on GPS trackers to protect us and the ones we love.  Now, we can also count on them to safeguard our possessions as well.

This NASA produced short film (3:30) describes the Global Positioning System. It is a great summary and can be used to augment the Galaxy Explorers Mission Plan on GPS.