Our agency has been approached by the 'Tracker" company (based in Canada) about installing equipment ·in the property section. They say they are part of a worldwide system to return recovered property to the person who lost it.  What can you tell me about the 'Tracker"?*

We contacted "Tracker" and spoke with some users of the system. Here is what we found out about how it works and what it offers:

"Tracker" is a for profit corporation. It was established in 1993. The world wide network that it speaks of consist of about 50 locations at this time.

"Tracker" charges a fee for membership. ($24.95 for a basic one year membership, up to $69.95 for a one year ''Tracker Plus" membership). If the membership expires ''Tracker'' will not provide information to the owner on recovered property.

"Tracker" works as follows: The property is recovered, the tag has a label that tells people to call "Tracker" if the item is found (or police scan the item), "Tracker" contacts the owner but will not tell the police or others who owns the property.

1) "Tracker" is not a property and evidence bar code system. It is not designed and does not work as an agency property/evidence tracking program. It is part of a larger corporate program.

2) If the owner lets the registration fee lapse, "Tracker" will not notify the owner of the recovery nor will they tell the police who the item belongs to.

3) "Tracker" requests that property be released through them. They do not necessarily release owner identification information to the recovering police agency. The owners get to decide if they want to come to the agency to get it or if they want the property sent via courier to them. Part of the "Tracker Plus" registration fee includes having the item returned via parcel post or courier to the owner.

4) As a private venture, "Tracker" is receiving payment for the work of the police or sheriff agency. It repeats the work of National and State Computer Crime Systems at a surcharge. Where law enforcement computer systems are free, "Tracker" not only requires a fee but denies the return of property if the account is not paid.

5) True ownership. Areas of concern include cases where insurance has paid for an item. The insurance company is the owner but the item would be returned to the registered by the "Tracker" system.

6) We contacted "Tracker" membership services asking for information about the member registration aspect and were told that:

"Tracker has the full support of police and all stations have Tracker systems and know what to do if the police recover the property."

(In fact, only about 50 agencies in the US and Canada have "Tracker" scanning systems.)

"Police are not given a members name unless that member agrees or the member is the suspect in a police investigation. By purchasing the "Tracker" Plus contract all recovered items will be picked up and returned to the owner. A member does not have to go and get it if they don't want to."

("Tracker's" first loyalty is to those who pay for the service provided.)

7) Bar coded labels. The description of the "complete scanning unit" does not include labels for the police agency. "Tracker" is not committed to helping law enforcement by marking items, only in getting information about items that have been marked by registered paying members.

First, is that as a for profit company it could put an agency in a questionable civil liability situation if an item of value is recovered and "Tracker" fails to provide appropriate information. Who is liable ifthe property is return to the wrong owned There is a question as to agency's releasing property to a "middleman".

Secondly, "Tracker" duplicates at a profit operations already provided by law enforcement at no cost.

Finally, if another for profit company (for example the National Bike Registry) wanted to install a similar system the door would be open and hard to close.

Our investigation suggests that "Tracker" representatives may have "misled" the public about the extent of involvement they have with law enforcement agencies to enhance profits. "Tracker" may not always fully disclose information to law enforcement related to property returns. Other private companies may be able to demand access similar to "Tracker".

We recommend that law enforcement agencies investigate "Tracker", check references. and make a determination based on if the "Tracker" system will enhance the efficiency of your owp property system without exposing you to additional liabilities. 

*Information provided for educational and informational purposes only. Based on information provided by representatives of Tracker Corporation and references.