Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Report released in November 2003. Every 24 seconds, another vehicle is stolen in the United States. Every minute, 20 property crimes (robbery, burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft) are committed, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Before dual-enabled GPS/cellular tracking technology hit the streets, covert surveillance typically required the deployment of radio transmitters on target vehicles. The Radio Frequency (RF) devices required sophisticated receiving equipment, and added manpower as another car often was required to follow the target vehicle.
Today, a dynamic duo, GPS/cellular tracking technology is being deployed openly inside vehicles — helping trucking companies, taxicabs, police departments and rental car agencies keep track of, and better leverage, their people and property through improved navigation and real-time fleet management. It's also being deployed covertly outside vehicles — helping "the good guys" keep tabs on "the bad guys" so they can crack down on today's increasingly elaborate theft rings and recover precious pilfered property.
Lieutenant Tim Stewart of the North Texas Auto Theft Task Force said he and a team of officers have been using GPS/cellular tracking systems for less than a year, and the technology already has helped net more than a dozen thieves, while aiding in the recovery of more than $6 million worth of property.
"We've recovered more than 50 truck tractors and 75 trailers — many filled with stolen equipment and merchandise — in short order using just a few GPS/cellular integrated systems," Lt. Stewart said.
"As judges become more familiar with how the technology works, and our track record of following and catching criminals and recovering millions of dollars of property continues to grow, it's becoming a lot easier to receive the legal clearance needed to pursue this type of covert surveillance," Lt. Stewart said. "I don't want to go too much into how we present our case or deploy the GPS/cellular technology, for obvious reasons — but suffice it to say that these systems are leading us right into the lion's den, the inner circles of some of the country's most-elaborate theft rings."
Helping Hand It's tough to be tough on crime with tight budget constraints, Lt. Stewart said.
"We would love to obtain more GPS/cellular asset trackers, but we just absorbed a $240,000 annual budget cut," Lt. Stewart said. "We didn't even purchase the few systems we're using. They're on loan to us. Without this GPS/cellular tracking technology, these elaborate theft rings more than likely would be having their way with us for the most part."
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