The Boston bombers stole a Mercedes Benz equipped with mbrace2 the m2m/telematics system allowing a user or law enforcement to track the vehicle. While typically the system is useful for users who want to remotely unlock or lock their car door, it can also be used for synchronizing PC mapping apps with the car, allowing you to send a location and directions to your car. This is useful for people who don’t want to enter an address into the GPS once in the vehicle.

The carjacking victim alerted police to the fact that the car had mbrace2 and at this point law enforcement tracked the car and was able to end the chase shortly thereafter. There is no telling what would have happened if a brand of car without such technology had been stolen.

Read more at Extreme Tech.