FRISCO, Texas -- Contractors are going high-tech to fight theft at home construction sites in the Metroplex.

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Video: GPS Devices Fighting Worksite Theft

Despite a sluggish economy, there's no shortage of new home construction in North Texas. Even with fencing, surveillance and security, there is also no shortage of worksite burglaries.

According to Melissa Howell of DeWalt, the losses are in the billions, and about 85 to 90 percent of what's stolen is never recovered.

"We're seeing almost $4 billion worth of merchandise stolen each year," she said.

Police across the Metroplex take daily reports of tools and materials stolen from worksites.

Sgt. Gerald Meadors said Frisco police will even patrol construction sites expecting deliveries.

"If you're a builder here in Frisco, you can actually e-mail our unit and say, 'Hey, I've got a load of copper, I've got appliances coming, (and) they're coming at this time," he said. "And we'll do a directed patrol on that construction site."

But some contractors are turning to mobile GPS systems to tell them where thieves are taking stolen property. Mobile Lock is a GPS tracking device that attaches to metal and can be monitored from anywhere.

"You can arm it or disarm it from either a cell phone or the Internet, and you can just watch your product go," Howell said.

NBC 5 put the device to test, driving around the area to see if reporter Randy McIlwain could be tracked.

"They can run all they want, but there is not a place where they're going to be able to hide well," Howell said.

Mobile Lock does not allow continuous tracking, but it updated McIlwain's location every couple of minutes.

However, the majority of things stolen from worksites are smaller tools. But experts said that GPS devices small enough to fit inside a screwdriver will be developed soon enough.