
Today's housing-market crisis has made the thousands of new and foreclosed homes in targets for burglars. GPS Thief Catcher has responded by equipping appliances with tracking devices that can help locate stolen items through global positioning system technology.

Tracking devices aren't just used in new, vacant homes; they're also being installed more frequently on property in foreclosed homes, at bank owned properties and on new construction sites.
Individuals can also use GPS tracking devices, which run from about $100 to $500 per item, on other valuables including laptops, telephones and construction equipment.

The Building Industry Assn said builders are changing their tactics to deal with appliance theft saying "Thieves should be very careful if they're going into a home that's not occupied. There will be a big surprise waiting for them."

"It's very beneficial to retrieving property," There's a fairly long history of law enforcement being notified of stolen goods through electronic means. There's a whole host of companies who use it for those kinds of thefts in building homes and keeping costs down."