A Frederick, Colorado dealership had three luxury RVs stolen and to track down the thieves the owner is hoping the vehicles are recognized by someone.

The vehicles, according to the general manager, were driven quite a bit and the crime was captured on their surveillance cameras.

The staff claimed that they were unable to locate a motorhome in which the general manager told them to go look for it since it has to be somewhere in their dealership. However, shortly after, they did realize that it was indeed missing.

The surveillance cameras picked up at least five suspects driving a white pickup truck in the lot. The general manager stated that he didn’t suspect it to be a spontaneous event; he thought it was well planned out. He said that the thieves knew exactly when to show up at the dealership since they arrived soon after he and his staff left before the cleaning crew arrived.

Watching the video from the cameras, he could see that the thieves took their time to open the gate carefully and once they opened it, they went straight to the most luxurious and newest motorhomes.

In his statement, the general manager stated that these motorhomes were basically like a home equipped with tile floor, electronics, televisions, heat and basically everything you would need to be comfortable.

All the RVs were 2017 models which included a Newmar Essex, Newmar Mountain Aire and a Newmar Dutchstar. They are over a $1 million in value.

The driver circled the lot with his white pickup truck while the other four suspects worked to get the RVs running.

Then, the thieves lined up and drove away almost an hour later, according to the general manager, who is concerned that if they don’t retrieve them in the next couple days, they will be gone.

GPS tracking for RVs would have been very helpful in locating and recovering these stolen motorhomes, since it would be able to give the general manager and the police the exact location of the RVs in real-time allowing them to track their location and even make an arrest.

GPS tracking devices are becoming quite popular in helping law enforcement locate stolen assets and vehicles and recovering them quickly.

If you have a RV or Motorhome and want to ensure it can be recovered quickly if stolen, talk to us about how GPS tracking can help.  1-888-544-0494

South African rhinos are being fitted with inexpensive GPS tracking sensors in a move to help protect the species. These prototype devices have been implanted in the horns of ten black and white rhinos and have been developed by the Sigfox Foundation alongside the Lowveld Rhino Trust.

With as few as 29,000 wild rhinos remaining in the world, researchers from the Foundation are understandably doing their utmost to ascertain the reasons behind their sharp decline. Just 20 years ago the number of wild rhinos was closer to 500,000 so this study is one that’s crucial to the future of the species.

By tracking individual animals, researchers can better protect them from the real threat of poachers. The GPS tracking devices also make it easier to understand their habits. It’s hoped that through collating and studying this information, researchers will be able to encourage the rhinos to breed. Ultimately, increasing the wild population.

Throughout the past months, the trackers implanted in the ten animal’s horns, have been sending out three secure GPS signals each day. These reach three base stations via the Eutelsat satellite and are received through a special secured platform. This technology has been internally developed by the Sigfox Foundation.

With the prototype battery life being from one to three years, as many as 33,000 data point can be utilized to track the endangered animals.

The initial phase of the trial, “Now Rhino Speak”, was run between July 2016 and February 2017 in a southern African conservation area with a 450-rhino population. The Sigfox Foundation is currently in partnership with three huge international organizations to further expand the trial and the conservation efforts.

Co-founder of the Foundation, Christophe Fourtet, was involved in the trial, alongside a team of four volunteers. His company’s technology has enabled the automated downloading of GPS positions at specific intervals. There is no human effort required whatsoever. It’s possible to see the physical positions of each rhino, thus, providing scientists with an enhanced understanding of the species.

The main goal and vision of the project is to create connected sensors for all wild rhinos the world over. The Sigfox Foundation is currently working on this with the aid of various animal tracking companies.

The week of May 28 through June 3, 2017, is designated as “National Tire Safety Week“. It’s put in place to educate motorists on how important tire maintenance is for safety. National Tire Safety Week is a Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) initiative striving to bring the tire industry together to help motorists learn easy steps essential for maintaining their tires.

RMA has teamed up with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) to promote tire care during this week.

Tire manufacturers put in a lot of effort to make tires for safety and long-lasting performance. This commitment goes beyond the factory. They want consumers to use them as a resource to understand how to care for their tires and how important regular maintenance is for their safety.

There are many benefits to keeping your tires inflated properly. When correctly inflated, they wear evenly which extends their life and improves the fuel consumption of your vehicle. They also perform at their best leading to dependable traction, better handling, and a more comfortable ride.

Risks of Over/Under-inflated Tires

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, proper tire inflation is imperative for several reasons.

Under-inflated tires result in longer stopping distances, decreased fuel economy and heat buildup. All these things can lead to a tire failure and increase the risk of a crash.

Over-inflated tires become damaged more easily by debris and potholes. If severely over-inflated, they can increase stopping distance and lead to vehicle instability.

Both can lead to uneven tread wear that decreases the life of the tire.

It’s a great time for fleet managers to focus on improving tire safety of their fleets. This can include:

• Checking wear and tear, tire pressure, etc.
• Considering installing a GPS fleet tracking and maintenance system that can help them better manage tire pressure and wear.

Both RMA and NADA are requesting the help of auto dealers to educate motorists about properly caring for their tires to improve safety. Dealers will receive RMA’s “Be Tire Smart – Play Your PART” kit that includes a poster, 200 brochures, and a brochure holder. Dealers can visit the RMA website to get their materials.

Other forms of promotions are provided to participants along with media and community outreach and free tire pressure checks to promote tire care.