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top computer from the police department that
has a GPS device pre-installed in it. The resi-
dent simply leaves the laptop in a location the
suspect will likely see. The motion sensitive
device is activated once the resident leaves on
vacation through a hibernation feature. Any
movement of the device will set off a signal
that sends a text message to both the resident
and the police. Officers can then use tracking
software via the Internet to quickly locate the
stolen property and apprehend the thief.
RPD has been using the GPS devices
manufactured by 3SI Security Systems for
over two years to address crime trends in the
community. With 68 arrests of career crimi-
nals for such crimes as armed robbery, vehicle
burglary, metal theft, bike theft, laptop theft,
copper wire theft, commercial burglary, fire
hydrant theft, construction site theft, and tire
theft, RPD has found a low cost method to
address crime trends as they arise. With the
recent spike in residential burglary, the RPD
has turned to the same type of GPS devices
to help address the burglary problem. The
devices offer the residents the opportunity to
participate in a program that will help ease the
fear of being burglarized while they are away.
Using asset forfeiture money, RPD pur-
chased tracking devices at a cost of only $450
each with a $30 a month cell phone service,
mapping, and 24/7 technical support fee
per device. Residents apply for the program
by completing two online applications and
submitting a $200 fully refundable deposit.
There is no cost to participate in the program.
However, residents can make a monetary do-
nation that will be applied to help sustain
the program. If enough money can be raised,
RPD will purchase more devices to help the
residents protect themselves.
The idea for the program was contrived
one afternoon when a resident discovered
his neighbor’s house broken into while the
neighbor was in the middle of a two week
Hawaiian vacation. During a check of the
exterior, the neighbor discovered a broken
window where somebody had gained access
and ransacked the residence. Of greatest con-
cern was the fact that the suspects had moved
several home electronics including the newly
purchased 60” flat screen television to the en-
try way. Officers believed the suspects might
return to steal this property.
Police were able to make phone contact
with the homeowner who was very distraught
and shared the same concern of the burglars
returning to steal the rest of the property that
had been lined up by the front door. The resi-
dent was not comfortable with simply having
periodic checks conducted by the volunteers
or the house sitter and felt forced to cut his
family vacation short because of the burglary.
With the cost of changing flights and the ex-
pense of non-refundable hotel fees, the costs of
the burglary to the resident was going to grow.
Instead, RPD officers offered to discreetly at-
tach a GPS tracker to the back of the televi-
sion. The technology was not going to pre-
vent the suspects from returning, but if that
television moved so much as a foot, officers
would immediately know about it and be able
to accurately track its movement. Armed with
this knowledge, the resident opted to stay in
Hawaii with his family and enjoy the remain-
ing week of his vacation. Although the suspects
never returned, the resident was grateful their
local police department had the capability of
electronically protecting his valuables.
RPD was one of the very first law
enforcement agencies nationwide to deploy
the GPS devices in a manner to address prop-
erty crime issues. With the success of the
GPS tracking program at RPD (67 arrests as
of September 2013), several surrounding po-
lice agencies have purchased the same type of
device and began conducting their own elec-
tronic stakeouts. To illustrate the impact the
technology has had on apprehending crimi-
nals, research conducted as part of a POST
Command College project found that 38 out
of the first 44 arrests were adults. Each person
arrested had a criminal record with the excep-
tion of one female who was accompanied by
her career criminal boyfriend at the time of
the crime. The 38 people had been previously
arrested a total of 561 times for an average of
14.2 arrests per individual. Thirty four per-
Every week, thousands of Americans leave their homes to enjoy a
vacation. Most vacationers take precautionary measures to protect
their valuables in their house by installing alarms or surveillance
cameras. Often, they will have neighbors or volunteers from the lo-
cal law enforcement agency periodically check on their property.
Unfortunately, even when taking these safeguards, residents all too
often return to discover that some criminal violated their personal
space and stole some if not all of their prized possessions. At a time
when they are supposed to be relaxed and rejuvenated, these vic-
tims are now stressed trying to balance the return to normal every-
day life with replacing possessions, dealing with insurance agen-
cies, and fixing damage caused by residential burglars.
In Redlands, CA, located 50 miles east of
Los Angeles in the Inland Empire, the local
police department has implemented a new
program entitled, “While You’re Away – RPD
Electronic Home Surveillance Program.” The
program helps address the problem of sus-
pects preying on residents who are away on
vacation. For years, the Redlands Police
Department (RPD) has conducted a vacation
house check program that is similar to other
vacation house check programs conducted at
law enforcement agencies across the United
States. Residents can request a volunteer
unit to conduct a daily drive by of their resi-
dence to ensure the residence does not have
any open doors or windows. The program has
proven to be in demand with residents con-
sistently signed up to partake in the security
check. Unfortunately, the volunteer program
only allows a law enforcement presence at the
residence for approximately five minutes a
day. Despite offering such a voluntary service,
RPD has experienced a nearly 16% increase in
residential burglary between January and July
2013 as compared to the same time period in
2012. Some of those burglaries occurred at res-
idences whose owners were away on vacation.
Beginning in September 2013, residents
who are planning a vacation can now sign
up via the RPD internet homepage for the
“While You’re Away” program. Before leaving
for any extended period of time, residents can
arrange to check out a GPS tracking device
that can be hidden on items of value that
are particularly attractive to burglars such as
home electronics, safes, or jewelry boxes. If
the residents do not feel comfortable attach-
ing the device, they can opt to pick up a lap-