Project title

UCI Bicycle Anti-theft Instantaneous Tracking (BAIT) program.

Submitter’s name, title, and contact information

Lynn Harris

Senior Administrative Analyst

University of California, Parking and Transportation Services

200 Public Services Building

Irvine, CA 92697-4525

(949) 824-1467

Names of project leader(s) and team members

Leaders:

Ron Fleming, Director, UCI Parking and Transportation Services

Chief Paul Henisey, UCI Police Department

Team Members:

Sgt. Anthony Frisbee, UCI Police Department

Det. Ray Keith, UCI Police Department

Hung Ly,Parking and Transportation Services Enforcement Division Supervisor

Juan Rodriguez, Parking and Transportation Services Enforcement Division Supervisor

Kevin Fong, Office of Information Technology, Parking and Transportation Services

Summary

The University of California, Irvine’s Police Department (UCIPD) and Parking and Transportation Services (P&TS) have collaborated to create the UCI Bicycle Anti-theft Instantaneous Tracking (BAIT) program. GPS tracking units are affixed to a multitude of various styles and types of bicycles which are then locked at racks throughout the campus where statistics have shown high probability of theft. When moved outside the defined geo-fence space, the GPS tracking device records the direction and speed that the bike is heading. This information is simultaneously transmitted, in real-time, to UCIPD dispatcher terminals and team member's registered smartphones, who then set out to track and apprehend the suspect.

Project Description

The UC Irvine campus has experienced increased bicycle thefts over the past five years culminating in over 500 bicycles stolen from the campus last year. The thefts not only create monetary annual losses of over $65K but can erode the sense of security the campus community feels, although UC Irvine is a safe campus. As bicycling becomes more popular, P&TS and UCIPDhave partnered to protect personal property on the campus and are sending a message to the community that bicycle thefts will not be tolerated.

The BAIT program utilizes GPS tracking software to monitor and track specific bicycles that have been fitted with GPS units. A web portal allows BAIT team members to test the GPS units, create “geo-fence” boundaries that alert BAIT personnel when a GPS unit crosses the boundary, track the BAIT bike, gather information on its location, and create reports.

BAIT administrators first identify areas where a high probability of bicycle theft is likely, determined using ongoing surveillance andpast theft data. From the web portal the high-risk areas are geo-fenced, that is, GPS coordinates are programmed to create a bounded area such that an alert will sound if an activated GPS unit crosses the boundary. The geo-fencing software allows administrators to utilize a drawing program to bound the identified areas on a map which then communicates the geo-fence to the GPS units placed on the BAIT bicycles. Each GPS unit is programmed with its bicycle identifier by color and name so that an administrator can easily see which bicycle is being removed from the geo-fence boundary.

Before being placed in a hidden location on the bicycles, the GPS units are tested outside to ensure sufficient GPS signal and data coverage. GPS units receive triangulated satellite data that allow administrators to track the unit’s exact location. UCIPD dispatchers, primarily responsible for tracking the bike during a theft and transmitting the information to the UCIPD officers in pursuit,log on to the BAIT tracking website to make sure they are able to see the unit on their screen.After confirmation, the GPS unit is then installed on a hidden location on the BAIT bicycles.

A plainclothes BAITteam member assumes the identity of a student and rides the BAIT bike to the agreed upon location and locks the bike to a rack. The BAIT bike will stay at the rack for a designated period of time to coincide with the schedules of the BAIT enforcement team.

Once the bike is positioned within the geo-fence area, the GPS unit is activated and the bike’s location signals are wirelessly transmitted to a central location managed by the tracking software. A web interface utilizes Google Maps to display the GPS coordinates to track the bike’s movement in real-time. With real-time alerts and information, enforcement personnel can determine the best method of pursuit.

Google Maps allows the user to select a satellite view, map view or a hybrid view. Each time the GPS units update, a data capture point, displayed as a triangle, appears on the map in colors corresponding to individual bikes. The time intervals between GPS update “pings” can be customized to update between every five seconds to much longer periods of time. When the BAIT bikes are out in the field, the intervals are set to the smallest setting as bicycles may be taken off road and frequent position capture points allow for better location tracking.

Once the geo-fence has been breached by a theft, an SMS message is delivered to the BAIT bike field officer and a customized alert is sounded on the main UCIPD dispatch console. The dispatcher has immediate access to the tracking software and is responsible for guiding enforcement to the perpetrator. The dispatcher will selectthe last three GPS data capture points which removes the clutter of previous tracking data points and gives real-time descriptors on the bicycle’s speed, GPS coordinates showing direction of travel and altitude; hence allowing the appropriate enforcement response to be determined.

At any time, administrators can view or download a report, seen below, of the entire session and a map showing the history of the theft. The data capture points are recorded,as seen on the screen shot below, and a report can be generated which is used to fill in the arrest report and becomes important in aiding police in prosecution.

The BAIT bike programhas successfully led to the arrest of six bicycle thieves on the UCI campus. Upon questioning, one suspect admitted to having stolen over 400 bikes from UCI over his bicycle theft career. The BAIT program has lowered the amount of thefts, aided UCIPD in retrieving other stolen bikes, and has provided an enhanced sense of security within the bicycling and campus community. The implementation of the BAIT program is one that is replicable at other campuses.

Technology Partnership

The software technology provided by GPS Tracking Specialists is created and used for fleet tracking. To use with the new program, BAIT administrators and the software team reimagined the fleet management concept to facilitate its use for bicycle tracking. For fleet tracking, a two minute refresh interval was appropriate but did not enable BAIT team members to accurately track a bicycle during a theft. At BAIT administrators’ recommendation, the GPS Tracking Specialists team reduced the refresh interval to 30 seconds which provides adequate tracking for bicycles.

The BAIT team sought an i-phone app to integrate with existing field smartphones. Although in current development, it was not ready for BAIT’s commencement. To aid BAIT administrators, GPS Tracking Specialists developed a web-based portal app for i-phone use which has enabled enforcement personnel to continue to use their i-phone and the BAIT tracking technology while in the field.

Technology Utilized in Project

  • GPS tracking software provided by:

GPS Tracking Specialists, LLC

2222 Foothill Blvd., Suite E513

La Canada, CA 91011

  • GPS units provided by:

USGlobalSat, Inc.
14740 Yorba Court
Chino, CA 91710

  • Google Maps
  • Wireless technology

Timeline of Implementation

  • November 2009 – BAIT bike program partnership initiated.
  • February 2010 – BAIT bike testing commenced.
  • June2010 – BAIT bike program full implementation.
  • June 2010 – BAIT bike stolen and recovered along with multiple other bicycles previously stolen. Two arrests made.
  • June 2010 – BAIT bike stolen and recovered. One arrest made.
  • September 2010 – BAIT bike stolen and recovered from a lake with GPS unit still transmitting signal. One arrest made.
  • September 2010 – BAIT bike stolen and retrieved along with additional high-value bicycle previously stolen. One arrest made.
  • February 2011 – BAIT bike stolen and recovered. One arrest made.
  • April 2011 – BAIT bike program received the California College and University Police Chiefs Association (CCUPCA) Award of Distinction.

Customer Satisfaction Data

  • The BAIT program received the 2011 Award of Distinction from the California College and University Police Chiefs Association (CCUPCA) because of the unique and effective use of technology to apprehend and convict six serial bicycle thieves.
  • BAIT team members presented to Bicycle Advisory Group who felt the program’s implementation is a good tool in stopping bicycle theft on campus.
  • The BAIT bike program has proven to be more effective than traditional surveillance methods and targeted operations. In the past year of operation, five BAIT bikes have been stolen resulting in six arrests - a 600% increase over previous years - and the recovery of multiple previously stolen bicycles. Under questioning, one suspect admitted to stealing more than 400 bicycles from UCI over the past several years.
  • BAIT arrests have indicated that there are coordinated theft rings that prey on the University community. As investigations into BAIT thefts deepen, more is learned about these theft rings and, subsequently, procedures to prevent the rings from operating on the campus can be implemented.
  • The BAIT bike program is an undercover operation and is not advertised to the general campus community.

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