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Beavercreek to install tracking device in statues
August 20, 2005

City of Beavercreek officials are going high-tech to track their beavers.
P&R Communications Inc. partnered with the city to employ a specialized
Web-based system to keep tabs on the large animal sculptures that have been
the target of vandals and thieves in the past several weeks. 

The system, Networkcar, was developed by a subsidiary of Kettering-based
Reynolds and Reynolds Co. and is generally used as a fleet management system
that allows companies to track their vehicles. Dayton-based P&R
Communications is providing the system with the city paying $1,000 for
equipment and service. 

The city has been trying to stop thieves and vandals who have been defacing
and stealing the 6-foot, 6-inch, 250-pound beaver statues officials had
posted in various spots throughout the city to help celebrate Beavercreek's
25th anniversary. 

By installing Networkcar units in each beaver, city officials will be able
to locate a stolen beaver within seconds through the system's mapping
feature. They also will be able to tell what time the beaver was moved, what
route the thief took and even the speed the thief was moving. 

"We are happy to assist them in their efforts to keep the beavers intact and
accounted for," Steve Reeves, P&R president, said in a release. "It took a
lot of creativity on the part of our engineers to make this work and we are
looking forward to watching the city succeed in their efforts to recover any
stolen street art beavers going forward." 

The units are scheduled to be installed Monday. The beavers will eventually
be auctioned to benefit three community organizations in October. 

E-mail dayton at bizjournals.com. Call 222-6900.