Car theft is causing chaos on Canadian roads! On average, a car is stolen every six minutes, whether it’s in Ontario, Quebec, or Alberta. According to a Canadian Finance and Leasing Association (CFLA) report, these thefts cost $1 billion annually!
The likelihood of recovering a stolen vehicle is exceedingly slim. However, a global positioning system (GPS tracker) is a device designed to aid in tracking and pinpointing the precise location of a stolen vehicle and speed up the recovery process.
While GPS tracking systems claim 95% accuracy, this blog is a comprehensive guide covering all aspects of GPS trackers.
When you finish reading, you’ll understand GPS trackers’ role in preventing and resolving car theft.
What is GPS tracking?
GPS technology is commonly used in automobiles for navigation. This technology utilizes satellite signals to determine the vehicle’s precise location and provide directions to the desired destination.
Many luxury vehicles, including Mercedes-Benz and BMW, come standard with integrated GPS navigation systems.
Similarly, mid-range cars such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda CR-V also feature GPS trackers. Additionally, Tesla electric cars are equipped with GPS tracking technology as standard.
What is the role of a GPS vehicle tracking system?
The role of a GPS vehicle tracking system is to monitor and manage the location, movement, and behavior of vehicles in real time.
Understanding the benefits of precise location data and tracking capabilities can assist you in:
- Optimizing fleet management: Through the GPS tracker, you can monitor the whereabouts of your fleet.
For example, you can manage deliveries in a truck yard. You can optimize route planning, allocate resources efficiently, and ensure timely deliveries. - Strong vehicle security: You can enhance vehicle security by monitoring unauthorized use, detecting suspicious activity, and promptly responding to potential threats.
What features should you look for in a GPS tracker?
Imagine your car gets stolen, but fortunately, you’ve installed a GPS tracker.
To enhance your chances of recovering your stolen vehicle, it’s crucial that your GPS tracker is equipped with specific features.
Ensure the following functionalities are included in your GPS tracker before installation.
Real-time monitoring and recovery:
The minute your vehicle is stolen, you must know its exact location. Consequently, this is one of the biggest advantages of the GPS tracker. Real-time tracking provides live updates on a vehicle’s location.
The vehicle’s location will be provided directly to the authorities or your mobile in real time. This feature facilitates quick notifications and prompt action by law enforcement agencies.
GPS tracking apps rack up swiftly and recover stolen vehicles.
Collaboration with law enforcement:
The best tracking systems often integrate with law enforcement databases. This will enable seamless collaboration between vehicle owners and authorities.
This partnership enhances the chances of recovering stolen vehicles and apprehending thieves.
Geofencing:
The thief has driven off with your vehicle, but you have established virtual boundaries or predefined areas on a map through the geofencing feature.
When your vehicle enters or exits these boundaries, the tracking system will send you instant alerts via email, text message, or app notification. Geofencing is one of the crucial features you must look for in a GPS tracker.
Vehicle immobilization:
Vehicle immobilization allows you to remotely disable your vehicle’s engine, preventing thieves from driving away.
If your car is stolen, you can activate this immobilization feature via the GPS trackers’ mobile app or web platform.
This technology halts any further movement of the vehicle, regardless of its location, by cutting off the engine’s ability to run.
Historical route playback:
You can access the historical route playback feature to retrace your vehicle’s paths after it is stolen.
By reviewing detailed logs of past routes and destinations, you gain valuable insights that can aid in tracking and recovering your stolen vehicle.
You can involve the police and give them crucial leads and evidence to catch the thief.
User-friendly interface:
A good GPS tracker should have an easy-to-use interface. So, with just a few taps or clicks, you can activate security measures, view real-time tracking data, and communicate with law enforcement authorities.
Whether using a mobile app or a web-based platform, the interface should be designed for maximum user convenience and efficiency.
Reliable connectivity:
Suppose you can track the location of the car thief but halfway through, your connection shows weak signals.
For effective vehicle tracking and security, a dependable connection between the GPS tracker and your device is paramount!
Moreover, the GPS trackers’ utilizes advanced communication technologies, such as cellular networks or satellite communication, to ensure constant connectivity.
Additionally, look for a GPS tracker that ensures that your vehicle’s whereabouts are accurately monitored, even in remote areas.
How does a GPS device tracker work?
To recover your stolen car, pinpointing the thieves’ location is crucial, and that’s precisely what a GPS tracker facilitates!
Moreover, a GPS tracker works by tracking the vehicle’s position after it’s been stolen, continuously updating with the movements made by the car thieves.
Additionally, the ability to locate vehicles in real-time is the primary essence of a GPS tracker.
You can discreetly attach the magnetic GPS tracker to a vehicle for tracking. Small trackers are easier to conceal.
Small magnets can be used to attach tracking devices discreetly. GPS tracker is activated manually or automatically when the vehicle is turned on.
Where can you hide a GPS tracker on a car:
How does GPS technology pinpoint the exact location of a vehicle?
GPS works by receiving signals from satellites orbiting the Earth. Devices installed in vehicles use these signals to determine the vehicle’s precise location, which can be accessed remotely through a web-based platform or mobile app.
Moreover, the GPS tracker continuously sends signals containing the vehicle’s location data to a central monitoring system or a mobile phone.
If the car is stolen, the owner or monitoring system can identify the theft by noticing unauthorized movement or receiving an alert from the tracker.
Action by law enforcement agencies:
Once the theft is confirmed, the owner or authorities can track the stolen vehicle’s movements in real-time using the GPS coordinates provided by the tracker.
With the help of law enforcement agencies, the owner can locate and recover the stolen vehicle by tracking its movements to its current location.
Additionally, some GPS trackers can send notifications via mobile apps. These alerts constantly update about the vehicle’s current location or any significant changes in its movement.
How effective is GPS tracking in combating vehicle theft?
GPS tracking is highly effective in combating vehicle theft by providing real-time monitoring and location of stolen vehicles.
Consequently, this enables law enforcement authorities to quickly locate and recover stolen cars, leading to a higher recovery rate and a deterrent effect on potential thieves.
Here are the top 3 GPS tracker for cars:
Can car thieves use GPS trackers to steal a car?
The answer is yes! But you can locate a GPS tracking device on the vehicle yourself by checking all the areas, as shown in the image shared earlier!
Carefully check all the common hiding spots, such as under the car, inside wheel wells, or within the vehicle’s interior.
You can use a GPS tracker detector device to identify radio frequency signals emitted by tracking devices, all for a cost of around $240.
Although tracking offers real-time monitoring and location to prevent theft, it is not infallible.
Nonetheless, when GPS tracking is combined with additional security measures such as immobilizers, alarms, and steering wheel locks, it can greatly improve vehicle security and act as a strong deterrent against theft.
Check out our latest blog directory to discover additional layers of security to prevent car theft in 2024.
- Top 10 ways to prevent motor vehicle theft in Canada in 2024
- How can I prevent car theft in Toronto?
- How to prevent car theft with keyless entry
- Top 13 Strategies to Prevent Car Theft for Auto Dealers
- What were the most stolen vehicles in Canada 2023?
Conclusion:
Don’t let your car be the next target; invest in a GPS-tracking device!
GPS trackers offer a potent solution, aiding in swiftly tracking and recovering stolen vehicles. This comprehensive guide provides insights into the importance of GPS trackers in deterring and solving car theft.
Make informed decisions when selecting a GPS tracker for your vehicle. Don’t wait until your car becomes a statistic.
For business owners, you can also consider remote video monitoring, a proactive security solution that detects crime before it escalates.
Contact us for tailored security solutions to safeguard your assets and combat car theft effectively.
