In a recent news story, police were able to apprehend a criminal who stole a van because the van was equipped with a GPS tracking device.
A felon spotted a van that was property of a county in New York state and hopped in for a ride. As you probably know some crimes are planned, but many are simply crimes of opportunity. An idling van, an open door…these are the kinds of temptations that criminals find hard to resist.
The employee who had been entrusted with the van was quick to alert his employer and they in turn called the police. Because of the GPS tracking device inside, the police were able to find the van outside of a fast food restaurant. Without the GPS tracking device, who can say how long it would have taken for them to find the vehicle? It surely wasn’t the only county-owned van on the streets. So police would have had to be on the lookout for both the van, not really knowing exactly where it was or who was driving it. A detective in an unmarked car attempted to get the suspect to end his joy ride. The suspect left the vehicle and made a run for it.
Eventually the van thief, someone who had been arrested 17 times in the past, was apprehended.
There is another side to this story though-what about the employees who left the car running and accessible to an opportunistic thief? We didn’t get to read about the end of that person’s story. I’m sure the county was glad that this employee came forward quickly and did not try to hide the theft.
As great as GPS technology is and as much as it can do to help make things more efficient, it doesn’t beat old-fashioned common sense. Most employers would prefer of their employees didn’t leave company vehicles idling, but having a GPS tracking device can add an extra layer of security in the event that something like this does happen.
By: Nancy McCord
Posts Tagged ‘Crimes’
To Catch a Thief – Use a GPS Tracking Device
March 30th, 2010Car Insurance – GPS – The Way Forward?
November 11th, 2009
The technology and design of automobiles nowadays has made huge forward advances over the years.
Vehicles are now focusing on fuel economy and their impact on the environment. However, it is technology that can be transferred in and out of the vehicle that could make a difference to how much you pay.
As we become more reliant on our vehicles for everyday life, many remain disillusioned as to the rising cost of their insurance premiums, and it is usually younger drivers who bear the brunt of the blame.
Due to the stigma attached to younger drivers, which usually associates them with offences such as joyriding and car theft, many are increasingly worried that their actions could have an effect on the world of car insurance.
With under-25s feeling the pinch when searching for car insurance, many feel they are being punished due to the actions of a small percentage that choose to commit auto offences.
However, could GPS technology hold the key to not only bring down crime levels amongst youngsters, but also help lower the cost of our insurance premiums?
With plans to introduce GPS technology into vehicles, and some insurance companies looking to branch out into ‘pay-as-you-drive’ policies, soon your driving habits could help contribute to the cost of your premium.
Indeed, several provinces in Canada have already put such a scheme into place, using GPS ankle bracelets in order to keep track of the worst offenders when it comes to automobile incidents.
Through the use of alert systems that are activated when the offender crosses into an ‘exclusion zone’, the authorities are able to keep tabs on where offenders are and where they should be.
By contacting them by use of mobile phones – also fitted with tracking devices – when they step outside their boundaries, the chances of intervention before they commit further crimes are increased.
And the technology appears to be having an effect – both on crime rates and car insurance premiums – in the provinces that the technology has been introduced to.
By: David Collins
