Wireless Helps Texas Police Stop Truck Thefts

Truck and trailer thefts have become so rampant in the U.S., that millions of dollars of vehicles and merchandise go missing each week, including two or three loaded tractors just in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

But Texas police have recovered more than $2.7 million of stolen goods -- including 24 truck tractors and 26 trailers, plus cargo -- and are poised to make several arrests and break up a Dallas-area truck-theft ring, thanks to the effectiveness of Asset-Link asset-tracking hardware from CSI Wireless Inc., which combines GPS and wireless technologies.

"This technology is the wave of the future," said Texas State Police Lieutenant Tim Stewart, who is currently assigned to the North Texas Auto Theft Task Force, which includes police officials from Dallas County, Denton County, Collin County and Ellis County.

Stewart and his colleagues borrowed Asset-Link units from San Antonio-based HeavyTrack and Holt Caterpillar for their task force operations. HeavyTrack, which specializes in anti-theft tracking services for heavy construction equipment, is a supplier to Holt Caterpillar, and has been buying asset-tracking products from CSI Wireless since 2000. HeavyTrack's application program, back-end and Web interface are key components of the asset-tracking system supplied to the North Texas Auto Theft Task Force.

The task force obtained court orders authorizing police to install Asset-Link units on suspects' vehicles. The units led police to several sites where they recovered stolen trucks, trailers and merchandise.

"CSI has developed and deployed more than 150,000 tracking units over the years, and assisted in the recovery of millions of dollars in vehicles and cargo, yet it is still hugely rewarding to see our tracking products used to thwart criminals and protect valuable assets," said Stephen Verhoeff, CSI Wireless' President and CEO. "The North Texas Auto Theft Task Force is learning first-hand what CSI customers throughout the Americas already know -- that the combination of wireless location and communications is a powerful, cost-effective tool for asset monitoring and protection."

CSI Wireless' Asset-Link product line, featuring the company's integrated GPS and wireless technology, includes an Aeris.net Microburst version that provides dependable, low-cost tracking and cellular coverage throughout North America. A separate version for the almost 200 countries where GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) is the standard wireless technology will be available later this year.