A state-of-the-art vehicle-tracking device recently led Fulton County Police directly to the remote Upson County location of a stolen construction vehicle only hours after it was reported missing.

According to Sergeant David Walker of the Upson County Sheriff's Office, the $70,000 New Holland front-end loader was recovered almost immediately because it was equipped with a new breed of GPS tracking device, which is manufactured by EarthSearch Communications headquartered in Marietta, GA.

The front-end loader, owned by Action Concrete of Buford, GA, was reported missing from a construction site in Fulton County. Action Concrete immediately contacted EarthSearch Communications in order to locate the pricey piece of stolen equipment.

"From a law enforcement perspective, it's a helpful tool," Sergeant Walker says of the EarthSearch tracking device. "It pointed me to the exact location of the stolen property -- within 100 feet. It completely cuts out the guesswork." Upon confirming the loader's make, model number and serial number with Action Concrete, Sergeant Walker confirmed he located the missing equipment on the property of a county resident and matched the serial numbers.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, a vehicle is stolen in the United States every 26 seconds -- and Georgia ranked in the top 10 for number of automobile thefts in 2006. "Our device can not only pinpoint the exact location of your vehicle," says EarthSearch CEO Kay Aladesuyi, "But, inevitably, these devices will deter would-be thieves from stealing in the first place. They'll never know when a satellite is tracking their every move." Experts agree that this type of tracking device holds the promise of dramatically reducing vehicle theft.

Action Concrete had installed EarthSearch's "AutoSearchGPS 1.4" device in nine of its construction vehicles in April of 2007. The GPS-based devices enable vehicles to be located and tracked in real time using the Internet. Jason Tucker, customer care specialist with EarthSearch, tracked the loader to an address in rural Upson County. "We were able to give the Upson County Sheriff's Office the location of the loader within a few of feet," Tucker said.

Tom Martin, President and owner of Action Concrete is happy with his decision to install the AutoSearchGPS device in nine pieces of his construction equipment. "The insurance never pays you for what you lost," he said. "If everybody had one of these locaters, these guys [thieves] would be put out of business for good. It's nice to know they [EarthSearch] are there." Martin went on to say that he'd be installing devices on any new equipment he purchases. "It'd be stupid not to," he added.

The AutoSearchGPS device can be purchased via the company website, www.earthsearch.us. Currently, EarthSearch and Mazda North America are engaged in a pilot program whereby metro Atlanta Mazda dealers will install the GPS tracking device as an option in any new or used vehicle that is purchased. Fleet owners, construction equipment owners and other commercial entities should visit the company website for purchase and installation information.