GPS Monitors: How Well Are They Working?

One of the newer inventions in crime prevention and monitoring technology is the GPS bracelet. These devices are fitted onto criminal offenders and send out a GPS signal to law enforcement authorities to ensure they are not entering places where they are not supposed to be.

Proponents of these devices consider them a valuable tool that can stop repeat offenders from harming more people. However, there are conflicting reports about how effective GPS monitoring devices are when it comes to crime prevention and tracking repeat offenders, especially in southern California.

A story published recently in the Orange County Register discusses some of the problems associated with these GPS monitoring devices: namely, that offenders can just let the battery die or cut these devices off, giving them free reign. The story in the Orange County Register discusses multiple examples of people committing crimes while they had a GPS monitoring device on.

Consider the case of James Edward Norkin, an Orange County man convicted of numerous sex crimes in the past that was wearing a GPS tracking device when he boarded a bus from Laguna Beach to Laguna Hills. Norkin repeatedly touched a 14-year-old girl on the bus while pretending to be asleep: when the girl and her friends got off the bus, they were able to take a picture of the man, which helped police identify him. Although Norkin was eventually tracked down, his GPS monitoring device proved to be of little assistance in this case.

The Issue With GPS Monitoring Devices

The problem with monitoring devices for criminal offenders is that they require effort on the part of the criminal to operate. If they are not charged or if they are removed illegally, there is nothing to stop the criminal from committing more crimes. Violent criminals that are not deterred by anything except incarceration are not going to let a GPS tracking device stop them from committing crimes.

What is the solution to this problem? There is no cure-all for the challenge of rehabilitating criminals or getting dangerous people off the streets of Anaheim, Garden Grove, or Aliso Viejo. One of the best ways to protect yourself from dangerous people, however, is through private investigative services.

How Private Investigators Protect People From Crimes

Private investigators are very helpful when it comes to identifying criminals that are on the loose, even if these criminals have cut off their monitoring device or let the battery die. Some of the ways that private investigators can help their clients defend themselves from crime include :

• Conducting a complete background check on people close to you: whether you are looking for a new babysitter, hiring an employee for your business, or just curious about a romantic partner, background checks can give you vital information

• Surveillance services: surveillance assistance in areas around Orange County will be extremely valuable to catch a cheating spouse, to uncover employee theft, or to expose other types of misconduct that could be perpetrated by those close to you

• Interviewing witnesses: people that were nearby when a crime took place usually have valuable information that could help identify the criminal. A private investigator can interview witnesses to find this information in ways that the police cannot

Even though GPS monitoring devices for criminals were created with good intentions, is very hard to stop criminals who are determined to commit crimes. In the same way that GPS devices were made to stop crime, hiring a private investigator will help you identify criminal activity or potential criminals before they can harm you or someone you love.

Are you suspicious of someone who lives close to you or who spends time around your children? Consider using private investigative services to find out more about them and to see if there is anything lurking in their past you need to know to keep yourself and/or your loved ones safe.

Contact Linked Investigations to discuss your concerns during a free, no-obligation consultation. We'll be honest and let you know whether we feel our private investigative services may be of use to you. Call us at 714-432-9911 or contact us via email: info@linkedinvestigations.com.