A 59-year-old Alpharetta woman discovered a hidden GPS tracking device on her vehicle only because her phone warned her one was nearby, leading to the July 29 arrest of a 68-year-old Forsyth County man on a stalking charge.

Alpharetta police arrested the man at a McFarland Parkway gas station around 10 a.m. that Wednesday, Appen Media reporter Jon Wilcox reported.

The charge: stalking.

The arrest stemmed from a report the woman filed in June. She told police her phone sent her a notification that a tracking device was traveling with her. She then took her vehicle to an automotive shop, where employees found a small, black device attached to the car. Both Apple and Android phones can send automatic notifications when an unknown tracking device is detected traveling with the user.

The woman also told investigators she had been the victim of a previous stalking investigation. The suspect in that earlier case was the same Forsyth County man. Details of that prior case, including its outcome, have not been made public.

What Georgia law says

Under Georgia's stalking law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-90), following or placing another person under surveillance without consent for the purpose of harassment or intimidation is a misdemeanor on a first conviction. A second or subsequent conviction becomes a felony carrying one to ten years in prison.

Georgia does not have a standalone law prohibiting the installation of a GPS tracking device on someone's vehicle without consent, unlike nine other states. However, using a GPS device as part of a pattern of harassment can be prosecuted under the stalking statute.

How to report

Alpharetta residents can reach the Department of Public Safety's non-emergency line at 678-297-6300. The department also allows residents to register private security cameras to assist in criminal investigations.