Top Car Theft Preventative: GPS Tracking
Every year, about a million cars are stolen in the United States, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That’s a staggering number. But the good news is that over the last several years, the number of vehicle thefts is shrinking, ever so slowly. Comparatively, in the mid 1990s, 1.5 million cars went missing annually.
Every year, about a million cars are stolen in the United States, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That’s a staggering number. But the good news is that over the last several years, the number of vehicle thefts is shrinking, ever so slowly. Comparatively, in the mid 1990s, 1.5 million cars went missing annually.
Experts in the insurance industry say the trend is caused by more diligent police work, and the growth of anti-theft devices available on the consumer market. Vehicle tracking systems based on Global Positioning System technology top a list of effective devices for loss prevention and recovery.
By installing vehicle tracking devices on their cars and trucks, people can save a lot of time and money associated with theft investigation. A residual benefit to the pocketbook is the lower insurance premiums GPS tracking users often are given.
GPS tracking and theft prevention systems have become immensely popular in urban areas, according to the FBI. Ninety percent of all vehicle thefts occur in metropolitan areas. Car thieves do some of their best and quickest work in plain sight.
Vehicle Theft Recovery Options
Some vehicle recovery systems are operated by police. The owner hides a small transmitter/receiver in the car. When the vehicle is stolen, the device emits a signal that the police follow with special tracking computers. The problem is this tracking operation could take several hours to several days.
More popular are GPS tracking systems that are engineered to be always at the ready, with exact, live report of vehicle location. These are known in the industry as real-time vehicle tracking devices. LandAirSea Systems’ Victoria GPS Tracking System is a prime example of this technologically-advanced method of asset protection.
These vehicle tracking systems are also discreetly placed in the vehicle. The difference with GPS tracking is, when the vehicle is stolen, the owner/operator has the ability to remotely monitor the object’s current location; or he/she can relinquish that tracking ability to authorities.
The primary advantage of GPS tracking is that much more data is provided for the pursuit of a stolen vehicle, and the information is transmitted at consistent, concise intervals, as quickly as every second. Police authorities can act quickly, thereby reducing the vehicle recovery time considerably. Fast action means there is less chance the vehicle will be damaged as it is stripped for parts.
Vehicle tracking devices are generally easy to install and run on batteries, sometimes with a secondary power option of hardwiring. The vehicle’s location can be found on an animated street map or a Google Earth satellite map. Sometimes the tracking can be done on a Web-enabled wireless phone as well as a personal computer.
Some GPS tracking and theft prevention gadgets are integrated with the vehicle’s on-board electric system. Features that will safety stop a thief in his tracks include remote door and window locks and ignition immobilization.
GPS Tracking Helps Business Fleets
GPS tracking technologies are also used in the business setting, for fleet management, and to protect vehicles from theft. Fleet managers will know the exact location of their vehicles in real time, saving costs of operation and minimizing the possibility that the vehicle will have to be replaced due to theft.
Time is of the essence in vehicle thefts. The sooner a person can locate a stolen vehicle, and determine its path of travel, the sooner it can be recovered, minimizing damage and repair costs. GPS tracking can be programmed with a geo-fencing feature. When the vehicle travels outside a predetermined boundary, an email or text alert will go to central dispatch. If this alert goes out quickly enough, a burglary or theft in progress could be averted.
Some businesses adopt GPS tracking systems because of their affect on insurance rates. Insurance companies offer discounts between 3 percent and 15 percent, when the insured vehicle is equipped with a real-time vehicle tracking device.
Many security measures and products are highly marketed as vehicle theft preventatives. But in reality, car alarms and steering wheel locks are not very effective against dauntless professional thieves. Car thieves make a point to stay updated on the latest anti-theft technologies, in the same way consumers do. Once thieves know a product, they know a way to sabotage it.
A covert GPS tracking system is an excellent method for preventing car theft, whether at a business or in the home. Real-time vehicle tracking permits immediate response, so the vehicle can be recovered in a short period of time. GPS vehicle tracking systems not only make the automobiles safer, they reduce insurance premiums.
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