https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/gps-for-your-pinballs

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/gps-trackers-for-pins

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/gpstracking-your-stolen-pinballs-any-thoughts-comments-products

Funny thing is....most who end up with a pin..(how ever they get one)...end up here on pinside...almost anything I google about pinball...usually in the top 3 is a pinside link....so just like the BBB guy...the thief's will google value...end up here...then they know the OPs moves.....so point on topic.....if they see this thread..(or just open the PF..like most pin owners do)...if they see the device can't they just get rid of it.....???...............Joey

Tile wouldn't be effective for this.

They are great for locating stuff you lost in your own house, but will have limited use for something like this....

You really need something with gps and cellular capabilities. I have something like this on a very expensive drone in case it gets "lost"

However, you will be paying for the device AND a monthly service fee for the cellular service.

I think a MUCH cheaper and easier solution for pinball machines is - good insurance.

Take photos of each machine, and inside take a photo of the serial numbers.

Yup. I have tile- I use it all the time.

But you hit the issue- for it to work:
someone with the app on their phone has to walk in close proximity to it, and
have Bluetooth enabled at all times.

Someday, if millions use this app- it will be useful, but right now, its WAY too spotty to be used for tracking stolen items.

What about a siren, like a car alarm, that is run off a battery. If the machine is unplugged then the siren will go off. A really loud obnoxious siren! You could have a tag on the electrical plug warning someone that a loud siren will sound if machine is unplugged. You could also have an override inside the cabinet. If the machine is screaming then the thief will move on to an easier target.

You could setup an arduino board that will also send you an email or text message that the machine has been unplugged.

I don't worry about tracking my pins. I worry about tracking my Escalera. Everytime you turn around to look for it its loaned out, and then that guy loans it out to another guy etc. And lets face it....nobody takes care of your own stuff the way you do.

I have a boat and live in South Florida and GPS trackers come up for discussion in the boating forums nearly every week, since boat theft is very high here. There's a dozen different options available. Spot Trace is one of the cheaper well-known ones, it's $120 and then a $100 annual tracking subscription. There's really nothing cheaper but it goes up from there, into the thousands.

-E