“Bait Cars” Have GPS Surprise for Thieves
Car thieves in Philadelphia will soon be getting more technology than they bargained for. Allstate Insurance is providing a “bait car” to the city’s police department. They’re equipped with GPS fleet tracking devices that can show where any vehicle is in real time, plus video surveillance cameras and remote door locking.
“If we can eliminate a crime for preventative measures, it is a win for everyone,” the police superintendent told Philly.com.
Allstate is making a smart move. It probably costs them less to outfit bait cars with GPS fleet tracking units than it would to replace an equal number of policyholder’s cars. Allstate restores damaged cars of policyholders and spends about $20,000 in bait technology. The Philadelphia bait vehicle is the first of its kind in the area.
Knowing the current location of each vehicle in your fleet is one of the main benefits of a GPS fleet tracking system. Yet many fleet operators are pleasantly surprised to know that the system they installed is also their best secret weapon for recovering a stolen vehicle – even better than LoJack. Really!
Because all of your vehicles’ locations can be viewed in real time on familiar Google Maps, you can quickly track them down if they fall into the wrong hands.
Car alarms are OK if they have a kill switch, but they can’t pinpoint your vehicle’s exact location in real time, like a GPS fleet tracking system can. You probably know all the reasons for installing GPS fleet tracking units throughout your fleet, like improved routing efficiency, more driver accountability and reduced idling time. But tracking down any stolen or lost vehicles is a benefit that many fleet managers have come to appreciate.
While a GPS fleet tracking system won’t necessarily replace a car alarm, it certainly will complement one. GPS fleet tracking’s accuracy ensures you’ll have one of the most reliable vehicle-recovery methods available today. If a vehicle should stray, you won’t have to tell the police that your vehicle has been stolen, and then wait to see if they have the time to turn on something like LoJack – if they even have it.
You’ll know where your vehicles are at all times. If one is stolen or someplace it shouldn’t be – like at a driver’s home – you’ll be able to pinpoint its location instantly with our continuous real-time tracking from any Internet-connected computer. And you can take that to the bank, Jack…uh, LoJack.
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