Hello all! Just a quick question about a topic that has been perplexing me for a very long time. Today, around 2:30pm, a Phoenix Police dispatcher put out a "211 T Tom" which went "city wide." She then went on to describe what seemed like some sort of range, saying it was "between 50 and 75." A sergeant asked for the air unit to help, but they were busy. I've heard this type of call dispatched before, but usually it "goes cold." They also describe an address or general area when dispatching it. I have been trying to figure out what this was for a very long time, but they don't really talk about it over the air. I think this is the only code I can't figure out by hearing it over and over. Anyone have any idea what a "211 T Tom" is???
"211 T Tom"
- Thread starter Avmonaco
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Don't know, but I'm going to guess it's a stolen money bag with some type of GPS in it?
Yes 211T is a money bag tracker alarm. I have a list of codes here http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?feedId=1974 it's not up to date, I have an updated list but can't remember where it is.
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RolnCode3
Member
Just happened to run across this thread. That's weird that they use "211". That's the penal code section for robbery here in California. Where did the 211 come from out there?
I have no idea the ARS covering armed robbery is Title 13-XXXX. Probably just well known as armed robbery I suppose from CA. Although if that were the case you'd think 187 would be homicide, but it's 451.
RolnCode3
Member
Hmm. Interesting. 451 out here is arson - who'd have guessed. Thanks for the info.
So what is it exactly that's being tracked? Because when they were dispatching the call, they said there were no calls in the area. So if nothing happened yet, what's being tracked? I'm confused...
RolnCode3
Member
We have the same systems here in Sacramento. Without giving away secrets, the item being tracked may have been left at a location as a bait item. Item gets stolen, officers track the signal, recover the property. It could also be an item taken in a bank robbery or similar, but the robbery hasn't been reported yet by the time the system picks up the signal. There is a stationary and mobile component to the tracking system. Dispatch interfaces with the stationary component. Officers are on the mobile side. There may be different protocols for both, such as delays and sensitivity.
Ahh, I see... I asked a friend of mine, who's an officer for Phoenix, about this. I can tell from his vague explanation that there was some info that was kept secret. But this is all I really wanted to know, as I knew absolutely nothing before. I appreciate your explanation!! Thank you!
What? I don't get a prize for guessing correctly????? 
What? I don't get a prize for guessing correctly?????
Internet high five.
That works!
When I lived in Flagstaff in the 70's the PD was using 211, 459, and a couple of other CA Penal Codes for radio codes.I don't remember any other codes being used for incident descriptors. I thought it may have been because of the TV show Adam 12 but who knows. I thought it was weird back then also.
AZ165
Member
211T used to be the radio code for ProNet which was used when a bag of cash was handed over to a suspect demanding money from a bank. There would be a fake dollar with a tracker in the bag and once it its removed from the "contact" piece in the teller's drawer it would activate. ProNet is difficult to track as most patrol cars do not have a ProNet receiver which receives a radio signal and points a little compass in the direction that the signal is being received.
As for newer tracking methods, there is a company (keeping the name a secret) that tracks the same type of incident but the main computer is located in the dispatch center. The computer is connected to a bunch of radio towers. The radio towers then transmit a signal to the computer telling the dispatchers how far away or how close the tracker is to which tower. When it is said over the air that it has gone "cold" it means that the radio tower cannot "see" the receiver anymore... This means that either the receiver has gone too far away from the towers (we would hope that another tower would begin to pick up the signal) or it has gone out of "view" of the tower, or behind a mountain, etc.
Hope this helps understand 211T
As for newer tracking methods, there is a company (keeping the name a secret) that tracks the same type of incident but the main computer is located in the dispatch center. The computer is connected to a bunch of radio towers. The radio towers then transmit a signal to the computer telling the dispatchers how far away or how close the tracker is to which tower. When it is said over the air that it has gone "cold" it means that the radio tower cannot "see" the receiver anymore... This means that either the receiver has gone too far away from the towers (we would hope that another tower would begin to pick up the signal) or it has gone out of "view" of the tower, or behind a mountain, etc.
Hope this helps understand 211T
AZ165
Member
There are also softwares that can track these units with real-time GPS giving a precise location of the "bag of money", if you please.
Thank you for the awesome explanation! This has been driving me crazy for so long. I'm thrilled to finally understand it! I really appreciate you taking the time to help me figure this out!! It sounds like a very interesting process that takes place.... One more question. Is it then safe to say that a crime would've had to have occurred if the signal was activated?
AZ165
Member
No, not necessarily. Just like hold up alarms being activated on accident by a worker at a bank or check cashing store, these devices can also be falsely activated. Sometimes when the teller is counting out their drawer or just doing a simple transaction, the fake "dollar" (unknown currency) can be knocked off of the receiving plate and/or lose contact with the plate and activate the signal. Usually the bank notices it and will call in to let dispatch know it was false. Otherwise, it'll be a nice goose chase for a little while!
P.S.: I am glad you understood my shpeal. For some reason I kept reading it over and over to make sure it made sense and to me it did, but I wasn't sure if everyone would understand. LOL
AZ165
Member
I also forgot to mention that even the newer method is still difficult to track because the radius provided is usually very large. Unless, however, the signal shows VERY strong on one of the towers. It then can be located with a huge police presence searching the area along with detectives that have hand-held receivers to locate the units that use GPS.
Wow! There's some serious technology involved in this! It seems like the signal rarely results in an arrest. I've heard this dispatched a few times and they always end up clearing it. Maybe it just requires too much man power that the Phoenix PD doesn't have... Very good information and I had no problem understanding you! Again, I really appreciate your time in explaining it to me. It's fascinating, the way all this works!! But I have to wonder, is it really worth all the trouble? All the money spent on labor and equipment. It doesn't seem to work that much....
Again, I really appreciate your time in explaining it to me. It's fascinating, the way all this works!! But I have to wonder, is it really worth all the trouble? All the money spent on labor and equipment. It doesn't seem to work that much....- Status
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