Crime spree ends thanks to GPS ankle bracelet

Odds are, if you're committing a series of robberies while wearing an ankle bracelet put on you by the law, you might not be the brightest bulb in the bunch. That's exactly what one Ohio resident got up to recently, though unfortunately for him, he was located by the GPS chip embedded in the aforementioned bracelet. Apparently, after six or so burglaries in his neighborhood, police got wise to the situation and pinpointed James Wombles using signals from his fashionable accessory, finding him innocently relaxing in a vehicle filled up with stolen items. The man had no comment, though we imagine upon capture he might have said something like, "Durrr." Once again GPS technology proves it's not just for getting cars stuck in cherry trees.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2008 11:03AM]

Now all taggers know to commit only 5 burglaries

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2008 11:07AM]

GPS systems send signals to our satellites, and the signals are reverted back to its source of origin, which in this case would be the monitoring system. Easy enough for someone with an ankle bracelet to perform crime... they simply report to the P.O. that they have a doctor's appointment or such, and have legal permission to leave the house. They must report how long it takes, miles, location, etc. to the P.O. Being that these crimes were committed in his neighborhood, they could have easily gone undetected in his travels, as enroute or coming home; it could have been on the beaten path he reported he would be taking. Maybe that's why it took 6 times to catch him. And the reader who commented about the lack of funds to continually monitor their every move is more than true. Sad. We just don't always know the details when reading a report story like this. And as a former newspaper publicist, reporting isn't what it used to be. It had honor, credibility, and if in print, could be used in a court of law as evidence. Not true today.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2008 11:06AM]

Well, Ladies and Gents... in today's article you met our first 2008 candidate for Dumbass of the Year Award. If you want to find out more about him, I suspect his relatives are employed at Home Depot.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2008 11:08AM]

Sorry, "through it."

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2008 11:41AM]

Seems as though the cops failed here too. Why did it take 6 in HIS neighborhood before they suspected him? It is true - he is a dumbass, but not the only one in this story. After the first I would've said hey where did his bracelet show him... You can check these things out without infringing on his personal rights or any other crap someone might come back with. If he was all that worried about going back to jail do you honestly think he would've robbed the first place?! Come on people!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2008 11:41AM]

GPS is sent via the GPRS-- General packet radio system. It's a cell phone transmission--just like your phone. GPS units can be charged fees just like your phone--for the amount of data that is transmitted. Cell phone are nothing more than radios--on a different frequency. GPS can update a moving object every 30 seconds or so--but that is a lot of data to transmit.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2008 12:21PM]

That looks like a shock collar you would use on you dog. Say, that might be a good way to keep a goon like this at home. Just hit him with 120 volts if he tries to leave the house.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2008 1:49PM]

Dumber than dirt! *LMAO*

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2008 4:41PM]

Come on guys, you know this guy is "special", and I am sure the law has a special place for people like this. You can write to him @ Thepaddeddroom.org