The Løten Red Cross inspects the deposit container which is right next to the cabins at Budor in Løten in Inlandet. – This is a deposit that the cabin people at Budor give us when they come down from the mountain. It’s like a thank you to us for being on standby here. That’s what Sivert Brenne Hagen, operational leader of the Løten Red Cross Relief Corps, says. In the past year, a lot of deposits have disappeared from the containers at Budor. – We may have been here checking the contents of the containers one evening, and the next day they are completely emptied, he says. Brenne Hagen believes they may have lost mortgage income of around NOK 60,000. That is why they have taken action now. TRACING THE DEPOSIT: With the help of tracking tags, they have tracked down the thief several times. Photo: Knut Røsrud / news Tracking and new containers For a long time, they have placed tracking tags in bottles, to see the location at any time. With the help of the tracking, they have on several occasions got their deposit back, according to Hagen. They have also bought four new and more secure containers at around NOK 11,000 each. He says they have reported the theft to the police three times earlier this year. And that they have reported a case for this week. But they took matters into their own hands in order to secure the lost income. – It is because the cases are usually put away, and we want to take care of our mortgage, says Hagen. NEW CONTAINER: The plastic canisters at Budor in Løten are now being replaced by four such steel containers. Sivert Brenne Hagen hopes the thieves don’t get into these so easily. Photo: Knut Røsrud / news Mari Kristina Bang, police attorney in the Innlandet police district, confirms that they have received a report from the Red Cross about the stolen mortgage. – The police are considering whether it is appropriate to start an investigation, and if so, what investigative steps should be taken, writes Bang. The police believe that it is positive that measures are taken to secure one’s belongings, and that tracking makes it easier to get lost belongings back. – One must also be aware that there are privacy rules and restrictions on access to monitor others, writes the police attorney. At the same time, she points out that you should contact the police instead to enforce the law yourself. Recommends less intrusive measures The Norwegian Data Protection Authority has not noticed an increase in the use of this type of tracking technology. OTHER ALTERNATIVES: One should consider whether there are other, less intrusive alternatives to using tracking technology in this way, believes Kristian Bygnes, legal advisor at the Norwegian Data Protection Authority. Photo: Ilja C. Hendel / © Ilja C. Hendel On the other hand, there are some things you have to think about before you decide to track thieves in this way, explains Kristian Bygnes, legal advisor at the Norwegian Data Protection Authority. – This type of processing may have some similarities with the assessments that must be made when it concerns, for example, camera surveillance. One should try less invasive measures first, writes Bygnes. In addition, an assessment must be made of how intrusive the tracking may end up being. – If you implement tracking without having made any assessments in advance, you may end up inadvertently monitoring other people than what was intended in the first place. The important thing is that personal data is processed legally and responsibly, he points out. More people use tracking of stolen goods The use of tracking technology to see where stolen goods end up is not unusual. That’s according to If’s communications manager, Sigmund Clementz. – We have had a number of cases over the years with mobile phones and tablets that have tracking technology in them. There, the owner has been able to see where the stolen phone or tablet is. UNUSUAL: Sigmund Clementz, head of communications at If insurance, says that the use of tracking technology on more valuable items is more common. Photo: Press photo Using it to track down stolen goods was still new to him. Clementz says that the positive thing about using tracking technology in this way is that you can inform the police about where the stolen object is. Like the police attorney, he and Clementz advise people to contact the police rather than seek out the city themselves. – I would strongly advise against seeking out this point which gives off a signal. You shouldn’t think that you can sort things out yourself. He emphasizes that even if these can only be criminals for profit, in a pressured situation they can do things that they would not otherwise do. Dependent on the income Olav A. Saltbones, press officer for the Red Cross, says they hear about such thefts every year. But they don’t have statistics on this and don’t think it happens on a very large scale nationally. On Løten, Aina Borkhus in the aid corps thinks the situation is sad. She says the voluntary organization is dependent on these funds. – The deposit money is important, because we need to top up the equipment as we use it. I think it is petty to become a thief for something that actually benefits everyone, she says. NEW CONTAINERS: Aina Borkhus and Sivert Brennhaugen of the Løten Red Cross auxiliary stand by the new deposit container at the recycling station. Photo: Knut Røsrud / news The Løten Red Cross says they think the mortgage income could reach NOK 150,000 this year. – We hope. As long as the theft does not continue.
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The Red Cross secures the deposit against theft using tracking tags and secure containers – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
