PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A Palm Beach Gardens woman has been accused of stalking her ex-girlfriend by secretly planting a GPS tracking device on her car. Nautica Brown, 28, was arrested on Thursday.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) said on April 29, deputies responded to the Town of Atlantis Police Department Police station in regard to a victim detailing an ongoing situation with her ex-girlfriend, Nautica Brown.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the victim had reported that she was domestically battered earlier in the day and named her ex-girlfriend as the suspect.
After meeting with deputies, a friend allegedly informed the victim, via Facebook Messenger, that Brown may have placed a GPS tracker on her vehicle.
The victim told deputies that she then noticed a car following her closely after a doctor’s appointment on the same day.
Tim Miller, a former secret service agent who now runs his own security company, LionHeart International Services Group, said the victim did the right thing by reporting her ex to police right away.
“When in doubt, call it out,” Miller said. “That’s rule number one, don’t allow it to go on because it never goes in a good path…. Be alert when driving. If you notice vehicles following you, there’s some old, tested practices – just start turning right. If they keep turning right with you, drive to a police station.”
Believing Brown to be inside, the victim drove to the Atlantis Police Department for safety, per the report. While at the station, the suspicious vehicle passed by and left the area.
PBSO said that while waiting for law enforcement to arrive, the victim searched her car and discovered a blue Nano Spark 7 GPS tracker hidden behind the rear bumper.
See also: ‘My heart dropped’: Port St. Lucie woman says boyfriend used Bluetooth device to stalk her
About an hour and a half later, the victim said she spotted Brown driving past her and said that Brown blocked her car in at the police station and made threatening remarks before leaving the scene.
Throughout the day, the victim reported receiving numerous threatening text messages from Brown, including threats to share intimate photographs of her on social media.
On May 7, police confirmed the victim’s account through surveillance footage from the police station, showing both the victim’s and the suspect’s car entering the premises at the times she indicated.
According to PBSO, further investigation revealed that the GPS tracker found on the victim’s car was registered to Brown.
Experts say tracking devices are commonly being used in crimes like stalking.
“In today’s world with technology, tracking vehicles and phones and other things, it’s very common,” Miller said. “It’s not so hard. You don’t have to be an expert.”
Brown faces a felony charge, accused of Using Tracking Devices Without Consent.
She was released from jail on Friday on a $5,000 bond.
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