GPS Functional Fashion Bracelet Finds Criminals

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/MM8Fn)
Every year, many crimes go unsolved and many criminals go unfound because the suspects successfully elude investigators. GPS tracking is reducing these mysteries by allowing police to track identified suspects. As the use of GPS tracking devices on criminals becomes a standard procedure, it is saving much frustration for victims and police alike.
Often, suspects that are waiting a hearing are fitted with GPS tracking devices in the form of a bracelet or anklet. These devices communicate with satellites to show the location of the wearers at all times. If a suspect goes missing or commits another crime, police and other investigators can use the information reported by the device to locate the person. GPS bracelets are commonly used for those with pending immigration hearings, as was the case with two Escondido men recently. These devices are meant to ensure that the suspects will show up for their hearings, but they serve in other investigations as well.
Two men in Escondido, California, have been arrested within a week of each other after police followed their GPS tracking devices. According to the Associated Press, last Thursday a girl called 911 as a man was breaking into her apartment. Neighbors recognized 22-year-old Jimmy Magadiaga when they chased him away from the home. Police found out that he was waiting a deportation hearing and had GPS tracking ankle bracelet. Within two hours, he was found and arrested. Police are now investigating the possibility that he also committed other burglaries in the area.
According to the North County Times, this Tuesday a teenage girl was raped after a man broke into her home. When her father arrived home from work, they reported the crime. The suspect was identified as the girl’s stepmother’s cousin. He was also wearing a GPS tracking bracelet due to an upcoming immigration hearing. Wenceslao Mendez was arrested the next day in the 1100 block of South Escondido Boulevard and charged with kidnapping, rape, and burglary.
If these men had not been wearing GPS tracking devices, they might never have been found. With GPS, police and customs officials were able to work together quickly to track and secure the suspects. As its use becomes more widespread, GPS tracking can be used to solve other crimes and perhaps even to prevent them.