Police Using Holiday Delivery Bait Packages Equipped with GPS Trackers

13 Dec 2018

One police department in New Jersey has developed a successful method to combat holiday porch pirates, and they are warning any potential package thieves in the area that they are watching this holiday season.

Porch Pirates

Porch pirates are individuals who steal packages directly from a person’s doorstep. Thieves make off with the merchandise, and the mailing service has already marked the package as delivered. The baffled customer never receives their products. Sadly, porch pirating increases around the holiday season because many people utilize the mail to purchase, send and receive their gifts. According to experts, nearly one in four American citizens have been victimized by porch pirates. One report from InsuranceQuotes stated that about 25.9 million Americans were impacted by porch thieves in 2016. SafeWise determined that some of the most vulnerable areas include Texas, Utah, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Washington and Massachusetts.

The Gloucester Township Police Department’s Plan to Fight Porch Pirates

The Gloucester Township Police Department is well aware of the porch pirate problem. These types of crimes always increase during the holiday season because of the increase in packages being sent.

To combat this problem, the department has come up with an inventive plan. Authorities have created several decoy packages that are each equipped with a special GPS tracking device. The package is deployed by making it look as if it were a typical mail delivery. The package is left on a doorstep in an attempt to lure in potential thieves. If the package gets taken from a doorstep, then police are immediately notified through an alert.

Authorities can then pinpoint the thief’s location by using the GPS sensor. Police decided to begin using this system last year, and they have already successfully netted at least seven arrests using the system. Police have utilized similar methods in tracking down bicycle thieves.

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.