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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
CSI Wireless' Asset-Link(TM) Helping Texas Police Break Truck Theft Ring
CALGARY, June 11 - (TSX:CSY): Texas police have
recovered more than US $2.7 million of stolen goods, and are poised to make
several arrests and break up a Dallas-area truck theft ring, thanks to the
effectiveness of Asset-Link(TM) asset-tracking hardware from CSI Wireless Inc.
"This technology is the wave of the future," said Texas State Police
Lieutenant Tim Stewart, who is currently assigned to the North Texas Auto
Theft Task Force, which includes police officials from Dallas County, Denton
County, Collin County and Ellis County.
Lt. Stewart and his colleagues borrowed Asset-Link units from San
Antonio-based HeavyTrack and Holt Caterpillar for their task force operations.
HeavyTrack, which specializes in anti-theft tracking services for heavy
construction equipment, is a supplier to Holt Caterpillar, and has been buying
asset-tracking products from CSI Wireless since 2000. HeavyTrack's application
program, back-end and Web interface are key components of the asset-tracking
system supplied to the North Texas Auto Theft Task Force.
The task force obtained court orders authorizing police to install Asset-
Link units on suspects' vehicles. The units led police to several sites where
they recovered stolen trucks, trailers and merchandise.
"We've recovered US$2.7 million worth of items so far, and the total
keeps rising," Lt. Stewart said. "We've recovered more than 24 truck tractors
and 26 trailers, plus some cargo - including furniture, electronics,
barbecues, clothing and ceiling fans - using the Asset-Link units."
Truck and trailer thefts have become so rampant in the U.S. that Stewart
said millions of dollars of vehicles and merchandise go missing each week,
"including two or three loaded tractors just in the Dallas-Fort Worth area."
Trucking companies that want to stop being victimized are telephoning
Stewart to express their frustration and ask for advice. He encourages them to
consider asset-tracking systems such as those available from CSI Wireless,
HeavyTrack and Holt Caterpillar. "It's the ideal way to monitor an asset's
movements."
"CSI has developed and deployed more than 150,000 tracking units over the
years, and assisted in the recovery of millions of dollars in vehicles and
cargo, yet it is still hugely rewarding to see our tracking products used to
thwart criminals and protect valuable assets," said Stephen Verhoeff, CSI
Wireless' President and CEO. "The North Texas Auto Theft Task Force is
learning first-hand what CSI customers throughout the Americas already know -
that the combination of wireless location and communications is a powerful,
cost-effective tool for asset monitoring and protection."
"Asset-Link is the perfect tracking device for our service offering
because we can customize it to solve virtually any asset-tracking problem,"
added HeavyTrack President Alan Day. He said the tracking system used by Texas
police cost about US$500, plus from $16 a month in service fees - a bargain
compared to the cost of what the thieves tried to steal.
CSI Wireless' Asset-Link product line, featuring the company's integrated
GPS and wireless technology, includes an Aeris.net Microburst version that
provides dependable, low-cost tracking and cellular coverage throughout North
America. A separate version for the almost 200 countries where GSM (Global
System for Mobile communications) is the standard wireless technology will be
available later this year.
CSI Wireless also offers the FLT-Link(TM) product line - designed
exclusively for tracking trailers - including a solar-powered version that
needn't be linked to a truck's electrical system to keep functioning.
Beyond stolen vehicle recovery, Asset-Link and FLT-Link are becoming
popular tools for managing mobile assets more cost-efficiently. They enable
customers to remotely:
- Monitor vehicles' mechanical performance including engine
running hours
- Log and analyze performance data, including temperature trends and
fuel efficiency
- Perform important security functions including:
- remotely locking or unlocking doors
- starting or stopping the ignition
- establishing "geo-fences" (precise geographic boundaries that,
if vehicles venture outside, will result in the owners being
wirelessly alerted so they can contact police)
Examples of the other conditions that Asset-Link and FLT-Link can monitor
and report include:
- Cargo stopped outside of its origin or destination for a
longer-than-required time
- Vehicle speed in excess of pre-set limits
- Engine use or idle time beyond normal limits
- Refrigerated load temperature outside of safe range
- Door alarms or other motion-sensing devices have been activated
- Cargo weight has changed en route
- GPS-derived odometer reports
About CSI Wireless
With offices in Calgary, Silicon Valley, and Phoenix, CSI Wireless
designs and manufactures innovative, cost-effective, wireless and GPS products
for mobile and fixed applications in the agriculture, marine, automotive and
other markets. CSI is a leader in several emerging high-growth markets
including Precision Guidance in Agriculture, Consumer Telematics and Fixed
Wireless Telephones. The Company owns numerous patents and intellectual
property relating to wireless and GPS technologies. It has licensed its
cellular technology to GPS, cellular handset, and chipset manufacturers. The
company's common shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading
symbol "CSY", with approximately 33 million outstanding. For more information
about CSI Wireless, go to http://www.csi-wireless.com.
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