High-tech GPS device was key in recent arrest, suburban police say

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Two burglary suspects were arrested this week in the western suburbs, thanks to some relatively new GPS technology.

The liquor store burglary happened in Elmhurst. Oak Brook police, though, joined in the chase and, on the eastbound Eisenhower Expressway, were able to deploy a GPS magnet called “Star Chase” onto the back of the suspects’ vehicle.

Oak Brook police then relayed info about where the vehicle was headed, and the suspects were eventually caught in Oak Park.

Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis said his department was the first in the state to use the device a couple of years ago and now has the devices on all its vehicles — plus two hand-held devices for undercover officers.

“We’ve utilized it pretty frequently here in Oak Brook, almost on a weekly basis,” he said. “We’re showing a lot of successes with it. It’s really … a safer way … to bring some of these dangerous police pursuits to a successful conclusion and apprehend the offenders.”

Strockis added: “There’s an epoxy and a strong magnet and, once those heat up to the proper degree, then the officer will deploy it when he gets close enough to the fleeing vehicle, and it affixes itself to that offending vehicle.”

The police chief said many criminals figure police are not going to go after them if they try to speed away. In Oak Brook and DuPage County, he said,.that’s not the case.

“Police pursuits are inherently dangerous to the public and everyone else involved,” he said. “But, I’ve said it many times in my belief, it’s equally dangerous to have criminals have no consequence for their criminal actions.”

Strockis said his department even gets an insurance discount for having Star Chase devices.

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