Thieves Install GPS Tracking in Rental Cars
GPS tracking technology is a welcome benefit for most car rental companies. Not only does it give company managers the ability to track, in real time, each car in their large fleets (and keep in mind some of these vehicles are moving clear across the country!) But GPS tracking also offers security that these assets can be traced and recovered if they get stolen.
Those in the illegal business of car thievery have been forced to operate with more caution and innovation since GPS tracking devices have found their way into the lives and cars of everyday people.
A rather disturbing trend has been making the rounds of YouTube and social networking sites. Thieves have been taking the same GPS tracking technology and using it to their own advantage. They rent a car, secretly install a small real-time GPS tracking device that costs as little as $300, have a duplicate key made, return the car, then monitor it until it is at a time and place convenient to be hijacked.
Video Shows Gangsters Stealing From Car
Sometimes the belongings inside a car are stolen rather than the car itself. This allows the thieves to return again and again to the same source, for goods that can be sold on the street. A video on YouTube shows how easy this deception can be. Two men approach a car in a hotel parking lot, pop open the trunk and make off with a laptop in a matter of seconds.
There are some who believe this particular video was faked and that the story is an urban myth. But certainly the crime itself is probable and of serious concern to any traveler or owner of a car rental agency. Imagine the convenience GPS tracking would afford a would-be thief. He could follow his target, in real time, on a computer, without being detected. He could wait for days if necessary, until the vehicle is parked in a prime place, where the thief would not draw attention to himself; for instance, an airport, train station, a stadium or a water park.
Crime Works in Japan Too
Rental car theft with the aid of GPS tracking is not just an American crime. Last year in Japan, a man named Mitsuhisa Kobayashi was arrested for stealing eight rental cars that he had installed GPS tracking devices inside. He enlisted the help of his two ex-wives, who rented the cars on his behalf. The GPSÂ tracking systems pinpointed for Kobayashi the exact location of each vehicle. He simply returned to them with duplicate ignition keys and drove off.
The GPS tracking game came to an end when his partners in crime ratted to police. Apparently – as is often the case – the ex-wives were a bit bitter. It is not certain if that was because of the failed marriages or if they were left out of the profits from the crimes.
Check Vehicle for GPS Tracking Units
In light of recent events, it would be wise and proper for car rental agencies to perform a thorough sweep of each vehicle when it is returned, inside and out. Some manufacturers are making GPS tracking detectors, which might be useful for this purpose. Otherwise, a visual inspection for vehicle tracking systems is recommended.
This extra practice is necessary, although time-consuming. GPS tracking systems are very versatile in their placement. They are designed to be covertly-placed, so finding them might be difficult. Vehicle tracking devices can be hidden in a seat pocket, under the dashboard, inside a bumper and dozens of other places, and they will still have adequate GPS tracking acquisition.
People renting cars would be wise to inquire about the use of GPS tracking systems at the time of check-in. Rental organizations, which lease everything from cars to scooters to ski jets, commonly use GPS tracking to document time and mileage, or for asset management and theft recovery. The Victoria GPS Tracking System made by LandAirSea, for example, is used by car rental agencies. The Victoria is barely larger than a deck of cards, it’s easily portable and it gives a live position update every 10 seconds.
If your rental agency uses vehicle tracking, ask where the GPS tracking receiver is placed. This should be no cause for concern because the technology is being used for proper fleet management and security. Thieves think twice before laying their hands on cars with owner-installed GPS tracking, because of the fear of getting caught easily and immediately.
If your agency says it does not use GPS tracking and a vehicle tracking unit is found on or in the vehicle, report it to the agency and the authorities, and keep your valuables somewhere other than in the vehicle.
Tags: Crime, Gangsters, GPS Tracking, Japan, Rental Cars, Vehicle Tracking
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