How to Trick a GPS Ankle Monitor: A Comprehensive Guide
If you’re on probation or house arrest, one of the conditions of your release will likely be wearing a GPS ankle monitor. This small device tracks your every move, ensuring that you stick to your court-ordered restrictions. However, you might want to take a break from your monitor or have some fun with it. So, in this article, we’ll tell you how to trick a GPS ankle monitor in several ways.
What is a GPS Ankle Monitor?
A GPS ankle monitor is an electronic monitoring device that tracks and supervises the movements of offenders released on bail or parole. The device uses Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to track the offender’s location at all times. GPS ankle monitors are often used as a substitute or in addition to traditional methods of supervision, such as home visits or check-ins with a probation officer.
Types of GPS Ankle Monitors
PASSIVE GPS ANKLE MONITORS
Passive GPS ankle monitors are used to track the locations of offenders periodically. They rely on a software application that installs onto the offender’s mobile phone. The application tracks their location through the phone’s GPS hardware. The phone sends this data to a cloud-based repository, where it is accessed by the monitoring personnel. The offender is not alerted when the data is being collected.
ACTIVE GPS ANKLE MONITORS
Active GPS ankle monitors track the location of the offender in real-time, using a device worn around the ankle. The device continuously communicates with GPS satellites to determine its location. A monitoring station receives this data and compares it to the offender’s designated areas. If the offender moves out of the permitted area, the monitoring station is alerted.
How Does a GPS Ankle Monitor Work?
The GPS ankle monitor communicates with satellites to determine its location. The device transmits the location data to a monitoring center, where it is recorded and analyzed. If the offender leaves a designated area, if the monitor loses signal, or if someone tries to tamper with the device, the monitoring center is alerted.
How to Trick a GPS Ankle Monitor?
1. Walking backward
If you walk backward, the ankle monitor will not register your movement correctly, as the monitor will continually try to keep up with your reverse movement.
2. Walking fast
If you are on the move and you increase your pace, the ankle monitor may confuse it with running. The GPS ankle monitor is not designed to differentiate between walking and running, so you can outsmart it by walking faster.
3. Stay still for about four minutes and then start walking in circles
If you stand still for a few minutes and then start walking in a small circle, it could make the GPS ankle monitor assume that you are just pacing around and stop tracking your position in that area.
4. Leaping up and down on one foot many times
By jumping on one foot repeatedly, or by kicking your feet back and forth quickly, you can mess with the GPS ankle monitor and confuse it about your current location.
5. Run up the stairs
If you want to trick the GPS ankle monitor, try running up and down the stairs in your building. This will cause you to get stuck in a loop, where the monitor will start over because it thinks that you have just arrived at a new location.
Conclusions
GPS ankle monitors are becoming increasingly popular for supervising offenders. Though the technology is advanced, it can be tricked, and offenders can evade tracking. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the technology remains up to date and that law enforcement agencies are educated on how to deal with these devices.
FAQs
1. Is it illegal to tamper with a GPS ankle monitor?
Yes, tampering with a monitoring device can violate your probation or parole conditions and lead to further criminal charges.
2. Can GPS ankle monitors be removed?
The devices are designed to be challenging to remove, and tampering can result in criminal charges. However, it is possible to remove them if necessary.
3. How much does a GPS ankle monitor cost?
The cost of GPS ankle monitors varies depending on the manufacturer and the service provider. However, they are usually costly, and the offender is responsible for paying for their monitoring services.
4. Can you hack into a GPS ankle monitor?
It’s not recommendable and could lead to criminal charges. Moreover, GPS ankle monitors’ software and hardware vary across different models, making it challenging to implement a unique hacking method.
5. How accurate are GPS ankle monitors?
GPS ankle monitors have some margin of error, often up to three meters. Moreover, dense urban environments or tunnels can cause interference and inaccuracies.
