While crime increased during the pandemic era, the FBI has documented a historic decline in violent crime in early 2024. More than three quarters of Americans believe crime is rising despite evidence to the contrary. The disconnect between the data and people’s feelings might be tied less to the number of crimes committed than to law enforcement’s clearance rates.

Larceny- and theft-related property crimes are the most common crimes in the United States, yet most go unsolved. Law-enforcement agencies have only a 12.1% clearance rate. When more crimes go unsolved, residents might feel more uncertainty, anxiety and fear.

Law enforcement officials can rewrite the narrative in their local communities with battery-powered GPS trackers. Here’s how.

Create a baiting program using a battery-operated GPS tracker

A baiting program helps catch thieves red handed. A law-enforcement department can use crime-reporting data to discover the areas hardest hit by larceny and theft. Then, they can plant bait—vehicles, bicycles and packages—with GPS theft-tracking devices attached in those areas. Once thieves take the bait, you’ll be able to track their location with pinpoint precision.

Here are just a few examples of how police have used GPS anti-theft trackers to catch thieves at scale:

• A Virgina man helped police track down over $3 million in stolen construction equipment when he put a GPS device on his equipment before it got stolen.
• In Pennsylvania, police worked with an energy company to hide a GPS tracker in copper wire spools. They discovered piles of stolen copper wire at the thief’s home.
• In California, police recovered 25 stolen bikes with a GPS anti-theft tracker.
• Memphis police caught someone stealing flowers and stuffed animals from a local graveyard using a GPS anti-theft tracker in April 2024.

A battery-operated GPS tracker like PassTime’s Encore device is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and ideal for stealth tracking. You can install Encore in seconds on just about any asset from vehicles to bicycles to cargo and packages. With dual-location technology, you’ll be able to track assets practically anywhere, even where GPS is less reliable, like parking garages or warehouses. With InTouch VP, you can manage numerous assets on a single dashboard and track assets across your region.

Develop a program to combat vehicle theft using battery-operated GPS tracker

Battery-powered anti-theft devices for cars, trucks and motorcycles can give your law enforcement agency multiple avenues for combatting vehicle theft. Here’s how.

1. Work with local car dealers and vehicle owners of the most-stolen vehicle makes and models in your area. Encourage them to use a battery-powered GPS anti-theft tracker and hide it in a discreet place such as a trunk or under a seat.

• In high-theft areas, plant battery-powered vehicle theft-tracking devices in commonly stolen vehicles, with the permission of the vehicle owner, so you can quickly and accurately recover the stolen asset.

• Work with your local prosecutors and judges to get warrants to add battery-operated GPS devices to suspicious vehicles. You might be able to connect one theft to others.

Your department might be able to request state or federal funds to purchase battery-operated GPS trackers at scale in your community. Cities including Lakewood, Colorado, are providing residents with free GPS anti-theft trackers, clubs to place on their steering wheels and decals to put on your window to deter would-be thieves.

Why PassTime’s Encore device is the best battery-operated GPS tracker for law enforcement

Encore GPS tracking offers law enforcement an effective and budget-friendly solution to reduce and ultimately prevent property and vehicle theft. Compact, wire-free and discreet, Encore can be installed in seconds almost anywhere on practically any asset. Waterproof and dust-tight, you won’t need to worry about inclement weather or rugged conditions getting in the way of your asset tracking needs. With a lifespan of up to five years and geofencing capabilities, you’ll have the reliability and accuracy you need to bring thieves to justice. InTouch VP is the software vehicle-protection system to track all Encore devices and recover assets quickly and easily.

Here’s what else you should know about PassTime and our devices:

• Proven 30-year track record of asset tracking and recovery
• Our devices boast a 99.6% reliability rate
• Our award-winning GPS solutions have been rigorously tested
• We offer 24/7 live customer support, perfect for always-on first responders
• Our back-end analytics and software apps help you make data-informed decisions

With Encore GPS tracking, your police department can increase larceny and theft-clearance rates and help your community feel safe. Get a free quote today.