Take Control of Securing and Locating Portable Assets

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Local builders know all about the problem of construction site theft. Now GPS technology is giving them a way to use satellites to keep track of their equipment and track down suspects.

This week officers made an arrest in Mandarin after tracking down a stolen air conditioner. Benjamin Thomas was arrested and charged with grand theft after police say they found a $2,000 air conditioner unit in his garage that was reported stolen.

Thomas, according to a police report, was employed by a security company.

Richard Moyers with Protection Group USA helped officers from his Arlington office, using his computer, to zero in on the stolen air conditioner that was planted with a GPS device.

"The time they realized it was missing, it was within three hours till they had it back," said Moyers.

Moyers says he has been working with builders since last fall placing devices on air conditioners and kitchen appliances. The arrest this week tied to GPS tracking was a first for the company.

Moyers said he was able to lead officers to within 55 feet of the unit. When officers got close, he activated the alarm leading them to the exact location.

Construction theft is reported to cost builders and contractors $13 million a year locally.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says last month there were 50 reports of job site theft. Chief Larry Jones says many more cases go unreported to police.