NCJ Number
57747
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF A VEHICLE MONITORING SYSTEM DESIGNED TO REDUCE CARGO THEFT IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY.
Abstract
ANALYSES OF CARGO THEFT HAVE IDENTIFIED THE LOCAL PICKUP AND DELIVERY VEHICLE AS THE MAJOR SOURCE OF THEFT LOSSES. AT THE 1975 CARNAHAN CONFERENCE, THE CONCEPT OF REMOTE SURVEILLANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S LOCATION AND STATUS, DEVELOPED WITH THE COOPERATION OF TRUCKING INDUSTRY SECURITY OFFICERS, WAS PRESENTED. THIS CONCEPT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DEVELOPED TO THE HARDWARE STAGE AND PILOT TESTED IN THE LOS ANGELES, CALIF., AREA TO DETERMINE CONCEPT FEASIBILITY AND WHAT CHANGES WOULD BE NEEDED IN AN OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. THE PILOT TEST SYSTEM WAS COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING FIVE MAJOR SUBSYSTEMS: (1) A SENSOR TO DETECT ACTIVITIES IN THE VEHICLE, (2) A VEHICLE LOCATOR TO DETERMINE ITS POSITION WITH AN ACCURACY OF 600 FEET, (3) DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS TO TRANSMIT SENSOR AND LOCATION DATA, (4) A BASE SYSTEM TO CONTROL THE DATA FROM EACH VEHICLE, AND (5) A REMOTE ALARM COMPONENT TO MONITOR THE INTEGRITY OF VEHICLES PARKED OVERNIGHT. TEST RESULTS VERIFIED THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF THE CONCEPT AND ESTABLISHED THE CREDENTIALS OF A NEW, AUTOMATIC VEHICLE LOCATION TECHNOLOGY BASED ON THE USE OF COMMERCIAL AM BROADCAST STATIONS. THE TEST FINDINGS HAVE BEEN FACTORED INTO THE DESIGN OF A PROTOTYPE SYSTEM THAT WILL UNDERGO FORMAL FIELD TESTING TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF THE SYSTEM ON CARGO CRIME, THE DEGREE OF INDUSTRY ACCEPTANCE, AND THE ATTITUDES OF DRIVERS, DISPATCHERS, AND SECURITY OFFICERS. MAPS AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED---KBL)