Successful Covert Tracking Program Renewed for Cargo Theft Task Forces
09/24/2008
With over $3 Million recovered during the first year of the FreightWatch Covert Tracking Program, AIG Global Marine renewed its support for the program so that Cargo Theft Task Forces can continue using FSN covert tracking for investigations. Launched at the 2007 Trucking Security & Law Enforcement Conference & Exhibition, the Covert Tracking Program delivered covert cargo tracking technology to six multi-jurisdictional Cargo Crime Task Forces across the United States for use in cargo theft sting operations and other initiatives to curb cargo theft. “The Cargo Theft Task Forces indicated that covert cargo tracking offered them a valuable investigatory tool that led to the recovery of stolen goods and incarceration of criminals,” said Ed Petow, FreightWatch’s Law Enforcement Liaison and formerly the Commander of TOMCATS, the Cargo Crimes Task Force in southern Florida. “With such a low cost of deployment, and a high rate of return with over $3 Million recovered, it made solid business sense to continue the program for another year.” As part of the program, each Cargo Theft Task Force was equipped with a Sendum PT200 tracking device, FSN ‘Slap & Track’ case, battery charger, and access to FSNtracks online covert tracking. Of the six Cargo Theft Task Forces that participated in an FSN survey, all of them indicated that the covert tracking equipment was highly useful for investigations ranging from recovery of stolen property/cargo, to movements of suspects/loads, to protection of evidence in storage. “Due to cargo theft suspects being well trained in counter-surveillance techniques, a tracker is a crucial and necessary tool when attempting to conduct a successful surveillance and investigation,” said one officer in the program. “Without the use of the tracker we would have had a much tougher time locating or possibly never have located the suspect’s warehouse.” FSN and FreightWatch International, U.S.A. plan to expand the program to include up to ten multi-jurisdictional Cargo Theft Task Forces across the United States in the coming year. “FSNtracks and our ‘Slap & Track’ magnetic case are valuable tools for covert investigations,” says Bill Games, President of Freight Security Net. “With the lives of law enforcement officers at stake, it is essential to have a solution that can be covertly applied in just seconds. ‘Slap & Track’ is that solution.” About Freight Security Net
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