Developer to open office at Tech Town

A company that’s developed an anti-theft device in use by a dozen police departments around the country will open its first office in Tech Town and hire its first employee with the new year.

David Gasper, president of Assisted Patrol, said he expects to have 100 of the devices in use in 2014 by many more city and campus police departments.

So far, the product boasts a 100 percent apprehension and conviction rate, Gasper said, and has been used effectively by the Dayton Police Department to discourage car break-ins. It’s also been used in Beavercreek.

The company is reluctant to describe the product in detail, but it can be used to arm commonly-stolen electronic devices like cell phones and computers so that they can be closely tracked.

It makes use of GPS technology and a device’s camera to pinpoint the thief. The product was developed with Gasper’s partner, Gary Brown, and the University of Dayton Research Institute. A second generation of anti-theft devices is on the way, Gasper said.

The company said a thief was arrested on Dec. 1 after stealing a bait device left in a car at a suburban mall.

When captured, the suspect denied involvement with the theft of the device and claimed that it was purchased by him from a nondescript man. After being shown a photo taken by the device, he quickly confessed.

Said Gasper: “We think there is great potential for this product.”

The company’s new office is on the third floor of 711 East Monument Ave.

For more information see: assistedpatrol.com/

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©2013 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio)

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