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Without a tracking device, the emergency dispatch center has no location to work with, and the search for the vehicle becomes much more difficult. With a tracking device, the situation is reversed—but only if the tracking device is connected to a proper emergency dispatch center. There’s a big difference between simply having location data on your phone and having an operator guide the police in real time. A staffed emergency response center isn’t a given with all providers, and where it’s offered, it’s sometimes sold as a separate add-on. With Spotguard, GSFleet’s own monitoring center is included —staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year—with extensive experience collaborating with the police and insurance companies. This page describes the process that takes place when a theft occurs, how the emergency response center takes over the search, and how Swedish Spotguard customers have recovered their vehicles.
What does a monitoring center do in the event of a theft?
The process begins when a tracking device reports unauthorized movement or when the owner discovers that the vehicle is missing. The owner first files a police report, which marks the formal start of the case with the police. The owner then contacts the monitoring center, which takes over the active search and provides the police with real-time location data.
1. The tracking device reports unauthorized movement, or the owner notices on his or her own that the vehicle is missing.
2. The owner files a police report. This marks the formal start of the case and is required for the police to be able to act on the information.
3. The owner contacts the GSFleets emergency call center and provides the case number from the police report.
4. The monitoring center activates frequent position reporting, verifies that the track signal is stable, and tracks the vehicle’s movement in real time.
5. The emergency dispatch center provides the police with real-time location data and coordinates the response. Foreign authorities are notified if the vehicle crosses national borders.
6. The owner is kept informed throughout the process and receives feedback when the vehicle is located or when the search is called off.
Three monitoring channels give the monitoring center something to work with
An alarm center is only as good as the signal it receives. If the tracking transmitter goes silent when the GSM network is blocked, the operator has nothing to go on. That’s why Spotguard relies on three tracking channels in a single device.
• GPS positioning with an accuracy of a few meters in open areas.
• GSM reporting of the location to the monitoring center via the cellular network.
• The radio is used to show the exact location when the police are nearby.
This combination ensures that the monitoring center receives a continuous stream of location data even when thieves are doing everything they can to disable the tracking system. The operator can track the vehicle in real time and guide the police to it, whether it’s Sunday night or the middle of the workday.
30 years of experience in theft investigation
GSFleet operates its own emergency response center with over 30 years of experience in tracking and recovery. Procedures for collaborating with the police and insurance companies have been developed over a long period of time, both for cases in Sweden and for cases involving cross-border thefts. The combination of proven technology and operational experience is what determines the outcome when a theft does occur.
The difference compared to simply having an app with location data is significant in a real-life emergency. A lone owner using an app would have a hard time keeping track of the vehicle’s movements, explaining the situation to the police, staying in contact with the insurance company, and handling the situation as it unfolds. Once a police report has been filed, a trained emergency dispatch center takes over tracking the vehicle, maintains contact with the police, and relieves the owner of the operational burden.
Cases from Sweden
Stolen Range Rover Found in Stockholm
In October 2025, a stolen Range Rover was recovered in the Stockholm area after the Spotguard alarm was triggered. The vehicle was tracked in real time in collaboration with the police, who were able to intervene and recover the car for its owner. Cases like this illustrate how rapid coordination between the alarm center and the police is crucial to the outcome.
Stolen RAM 1500 Found in Stockholm
In February 2026, a stolen RAM 1500 was recovered in Stockholm thanks to Spotguard, and several people were arrested in connection with the recovery. The case demonstrated how the tracking not only helped recover the vehicle but also led to the perpetrators being stopped in the act.
International Collaboration
Organized crime networks often transport stolen goods across borders for resale in other markets. An alarm monitoring center with established contacts in neighboring countries and throughout Europe can track the goods even after they have left Sweden. Larmtjänst has its own collaborative projects with police and authorities in several countries and works with tracking device services to recover goods stolen in Sweden.
In March 2026, 21 boat engines stolen in Sweden were returned from Romania to Sweden following their seizure and identification in cooperation with Larmtjänst. In September of the same year, 22 motorcycles and ATVs stolen in Sweden were recovered following a police raid in Poland. These cases are examples of how collaboration between tracking service providers, the police, and Larmtjänst leads to the actual recovery of stolen property.
What You Get with Spotguard’s Monitoring Center
Compare the points below with what other tracking devices on the market actually offer. Many don’t offer anything at all in this category, while others charge extra for some of these features.
• 24/7 staffing, every day. An operator responds immediately to alarms, regardless of the time of day, whether it’s a weekend or a major holiday. Included in the subscription; no separate charge.
• Experience from thousands of recoveries: Operators who have done this many times and know which steps work.
• Established channels of communication with the police: Direct contacts within the police organization that have been built up over decades.
• International cooperation: Networks with foreign emergency dispatch centers, police, and an emergency response service for goods being exported from the country.
• Feedback to the owner: Ongoing updates on the progress of the process, from the initial report to the recovery of the item.
Read more
• Tracking Devices for Businesses: Overview
• GPS trackers and GPS tracking devices for businesses
• Tracking devices for construction equipment
• Tracking devices for motorcycles, RVs, and boats
• Theft marking and SSF-approved anti-theft protection
Frequently Asked Questions About the Emergency Call Center and Lost and Found
How quickly does the emergency dispatch center respond?
Once the owner has filed a police report and contacts the alarm center, the signal is verified within minutes and active tracking begins. Location data is continuously shared with the police throughout the operation.
What happens if I travel abroad with my car?
A tracking device with international roaming continues to report its location even while abroad, and the emergency response center can coordinate with foreign authorities if something happens during the trip.
Will the emergency dispatch center call the police for me?
No, filing a police report is always the owner’s responsibility and must be done before the alarm center is notified. This is because the police need a formal report to open a case and take action. Once the report has been filed, the alarm center takes over the operational search and provides the police with up-to-date location information in real time.
What happens if my vehicle is found abroad?
The emergency call center collaborates with Larmtjänst and foreign authorities to identify and repatriate individuals. This process takes time but works in practice, as demonstrated by the cases involving boat engines from Romania and motorcycles from Poland.
