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Using GPS Technology To Investigate Crime Trends

NCJ Number
254507
Author(s)
Travis Martinez
Date Published
November 2017
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This report describes how the Redlands Police Department (RPD) in California used GPS technology to make arrests in the property crimes of pharmacy burglary, serial armed robbery, construction site theft. vending machine theft, and cemetery theft.
Abstract
In all these cases, GPS devices were attached to items attractive to thieves at stores and sites previously victimized. In all of the case studies presented, the targeted items were stolen, which activated the GPS devices and enabled police officers to track the items to the thieves and make arrests. This strategy has proven to be cost-effective at a time when the RPD was experiencing cuts in law enforcement resources.