The AnyTrack Blog

Should You Tell Your Employees You’ve Installed GPS Tracking?

So, maybe you're a builder, a construction company, or equipment rental company and you've decided to install GPS tracking devices in newly installed appliances, lumber pallets or heavy equipment. Should you tell your employees?

It depends.

If you've been hit by a string of thefts, unfortunately, there's the possibility that an employee may be the perpetrator. Since covert GPS tracking can help you identify the thief, saying nothing may be best. On the other hand, GPS tracking can be used as a preventive measure. Just by informing employees it's been installed might persuade the bad apples to move on to an easier target.

But if GPS tracking is being installed to help manage productivity, the fair thing is to tell employees in advance how, why and on what they are being measured. After all, the point is to improve effectiveness, not to play 'gotcha.' You're much more likely to get the results you want if you're straightforward with them.

In any case, keep system passwords, installation locations and user guides confidential so that information about your security measures isn't innocently or deliberately passed along to potential thieves.

AnyTrack Helps Business Owner Nab A Thief

We love stories like this:

The owner of several rental cabins was fed up with with the $30,000 worth of flat screen TV thefts from his properties. He purchased an AnyTrack GPS-100 device and concealed it inside a flat screen television.

When the AnyTrack system showed that the device had moved from the rental cabin he contacted the local sheriff's department. Using the AnyTrack system, law enforcement tracked the television to a location 80 miles away from where it was supposed to be. Detectives then 'just basically walked up to the front door," said a sheriff's department spokesman, and confronted the suspect.

Can you say busted?

Five televisions and a video game system were recovered. The suspect was arrested and charged with aggravated burglary.

But here's the best part: our customer was so impressed with the GPS-100, that he ordered several more and became an AnyTrack authorized dealer! 

It’s 3:00 a.m. – Do You Know Where Your Heavy Equipment Is?

Announcing the AnyTrack GPS-120!

First the bad news: The cost of heavy equipment theft, according to the National Equipment Register 2007 Equipment Theft Report, ranges between $300 million and $1 billion per year. Insurance covers some of the costs, but deductibles can be daunting - $10,000 isn't exactly pocket change. Not to mention the revenue you lose while you replace your equipment.

Now, the good news: We've just added a new weapon to our arsenal of tracking and theft prevention products - the AnyTrack GPS 120, a real time theft prevention and inventory management tracking solution that minimizes the fuel costs, operating expenses and downtime caused by unatuthorized use and theft of heavy equipment.

The easy to use AnyTrack GPS-120 connects directly to the equipment's 12V power and includes an internal battery to power the device when the ignition is turned off. It silently monitors and reports the location of your heavy equipment, such as skid steer loaders, backhoe loaders and tractors, anywhere in the U.S. You can set the GPS-120 to provide locations at set internvals, locate on demand, or set a virtual fence around your premises or job site and get an alert to your cellphone or email when the equipment moves outside the 'Geofence.'

The AnyTrack GPS-120 is $229; purchase the device, subscribe to the AnyTrack Real Time Tracking System, or get additional information, at anytrack.com.

Heavy Equipment Theft Provides Forklift to Steal ATM

Thieves stole an ATM from a Bank of America branch in Atlanta, Georgia, early the morning of August 11th, using a forklift stolen from a nearby location. The forklift was sitting in the bak parking lot when police arrived. Witnesses said that two men used it to place the ATM on a pickup truck.

Police said this type of theft is rare, because the equipment is difficult to hide, but is becoming more common.

Source: 11Alive.com

What Type of Heavy Equipment Is Most Frequently Stolen?

If you said "skid steer loaders," you're right. In 2007, 34% of heavy equipment thefts were skid steer loaders according to National Equipment Register statistics. And that's up from 31% in 2006.

What makes a skid steer such a popular target? Two risk factors - it's value and the ease with which it can be transported. And, because there are lots of skid steers in circulation, it raises the odds even further.

So, what can owners do to prevent heavy equipment theft?

First, register with the National Equipment Register and affix warning decals to your equipment. Lock the equipment and surround it with other vehicles to make it more difficult to move.

Thieves sometimes simply lift construction equipment onto a trailer to transport it, so use a tracking device to let you know when the equipment moves outside a defined area, such as your premises or a jobsite. AnyTrack gps tracking devices are cellular-enhanced GPS, known as AGPS, that enables them to be tracked across the U.S., even if indoors and not in view of GPS satellites. Conventional GPS units require an antenna to be visible to the sky, which alerts theives to their presence.

No one theft prevention measure will completely protect you from thieves; but the more you institute the less likely they are to succeed.

Source: 2007 Equipment Theft Report, National Equipment Register

Image: John Deere

Oil Prices Drop to $119 a Barrel, the Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rate to 2% and the AnyTrack GPS-100 is on Sale for $189!

Yep, even though the price of just about everything seems to be going up, we’ve priced our 2.65 oz. AnyTrack GPS-100 real time GPS tracker at $189 for a limited time. That’s $40 off the regular retail price of $229 for a GPS tracking device you can use to monitor teen drivers, vehicles, trailers, motorcycles---just about anything that’s important to you. Unlike conventional GPS devices it works indoors, as well as outdoors.  Anyway, if you’re interested, check out the GPS-100 product for more information.

Construction Companies Struggle to Prevent Fuel Thefts - How to Make Things a Little Tougher for Thieves

You may have seen the news report: in Frederick county Maryland, thieves stole a nearly full 500-gallon diesel fuel tank, weighing more than a half a ton from a construction site. “You would think if you had something that weighed well over 1,000 pounds, it’s not the kind of thing somebody is going to walk away with,” said Craig Wess, president of Manekin Construction in Columbia. The tank and its contents are estimated to be worth $5,000.

It’s an all too common occurence as rising fuel costs nationwide fuel rising thefts. What's a business owner to do?

Nothing is foolproof, but there are some precautions that construction companies, rental and heavy equipment owners and other businesses can take to minimize the chances of becoming a victim of fuel theft. 

Most important is not leaving vehicles or containers in unattended locations. If vehicles or equipment can’t be moved to a secure location, drain fuel from the tanks so that exposure from siphoning is limited and if possible, park so that access to the gas tank is limited.

Park in your garage if at all possible, or at least in the driveway, and determine how to pull into the driveway to minimize access to your gas tank. Install a motion-detector light over the driveway to help deter would-be thieves. Make sure your insurance covers such thefts as catalytic converters and other parts of your car, to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses if you do get hit.

Choosing a GPS Tracking Device: Do You Need Real-Time Or Historical Tracking?

AnyTrack devices utilize A-GPS (Also known as Assisted GPS) technology. A-GPS combines conventional GPS with assistance from wireless networks. This enables the device to provide users with real-time information about the location of the person or object being monitored. It also enables the device to initialize and locate satellites faster than conventional GPS.

Conventional GPS cannot provide users with real-time information about the location of the receiver. Conventional GPS receivers store location data and other information on the device. The GPS receiver, or a portion of the receiver, must be periodically retrieved to see where the device has been.

Do you need to know where your tractor, vehicle or cargo is in real-time? If so, make sure the device you purchase uses A-GPS technology.

How Likely is Your Vehicle to be Stolen? 2008 Hot Wheels Study Lists Most Frequently Stolen Vehicles of 2007

The National Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB)  has released Hot Wheels 2008, which examines data reported to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) to determine the vehicle make, model, and model year most reported stolen in 2007.

For 2007, the most stolen cars and trucks in the nation were:

1	1995 Honda Civic
2	1991 Honda Accord
3	1989 Toyota Camry
4	1997 Ford F-150 Series Pickup
5	1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup
6	1994 Acura Integra
7	2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
8	1994 Nissan Sentra
9	1988 ToyotaPickup
10	2007 Toyota Corolla

Thieves target older vehicles because they provide the best market for stolen vehicle parts. The report adds that locking your car and taking your keys is the first line of defense against theft.

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau

Photo Credit: 1995 Honda Civic – HondaTuning Magazine

GPS tracking and Discounts on Auto Insurance

If you are one of those people who spend most of their time on the road, then safe and secure travel is your prime concern, hence you should consider a GPS tracking system in your vehicle. Automobile manufacturers, consumers, and especially parents are realizing the importance of GPS tracking systems for automobile safety.

Some of the advantageous features of GPS tracking systems are as follows:

1. Many insurance companies are providing discounted car insurance rates for drivers or families who prefer to buy a vehicle that has a GPS tracking system or those who install a GPS tracking      tool after they buy the car.  Teen driver insurance is expensive, so it is more valuable to earn discounts on their insurance with a tracking system in the vehicle.
2. In case your car is stolen, the GPS tracking system enables you and police to pinpoint the precise location of your car.
3. Some GPS tracking systems offer speed alerts which discourage unsafe driving and increases fuel efficiency by driving according to speed limits.
4. A parent of a teenage driver, can have peace of mind knowing their son or daughter is in the area they were supposed to be and can be tracked in case there is an accident.

Some manufacturers of GPS systems offer the GPS tracking unit in miniature size and built in batteries for moving the device between different vehicles and concealing in a vehicle. Some, such as the AnyTrack GPS-100 come with a cigarette lighter adapter for charging up the battery. The newer tracking systems provide an online tracking service so the vehicle can be located from a PC at home or work.

If there is theft of the vehicle, the GPS tracking system may be able to give you the exact location of your stolen vehicle. Insurance companies offer real good discounts for GPS unit installed vehicles, due to the low-risk factor of theft and high probability of recovery.

Many auto insurance companies offer low-mileage discounts to car owners. A GPS system tracks mileage and serves as proof that the car owner is entitled to a low mileage insurance discount. 

So, get a GPS tracking unit installed in your vehicle, earn low-mileage insurance discounts and reap the benefits of peace of mind.