Florida Man Arrested for Stalking Ex-Girlfriend Using Hidden GPS Tracker
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — A South Florida man is facing felony charges after investigators say he secretly planted a tracking device on his ex-girlfriend’s car and stalked her for weeks, following her across county lines—including all the way to Orlando without her knowledge.
Grant Guidry, whose address has not been publicly released, was arrested by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) on charges of stalking and illegally installing a tracking device.
The woman, who had previously been in a relationship with Guidry, first became suspicious after repeatedly noticing him appearing at the same locations as her, including destinations far from their home county. Her suspicions were confirmed when she located the hidden tracking device inside her vehicle.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Guidry had allegedly been tracking her movements for over three weeks without her consent. His actions culminated in what investigators described as “a calculated pattern of surveillance,” ultimately leading to his arrest.
Modern Tools, Old Crimes
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek spoke to WPBF 25 News to provide insight into how small and advanced modern tracking devices have become—making them easy to hide and hard to detect.
“Tracking devices are not like they are in the movies; they are smaller and smaller. I mean some of them can be as small as something to track a package,” Budensiek explained.
He cited devices like Apple’s AirTag, which are roughly the size of a quarter and can be easily dropped in a purse, under a seat, or inside a glove compartment. Budensiek warned that even car maintenance workers and mechanics should be aware of the issue when performing inspections.
“When you take your car in for an oil change, it’s not a bad idea to have your mechanics take a good once-over of the car,” he advised.
Legal Gray Areas
Florida law does allow the use of tracking devices under certain specific conditions—such as by law enforcement during investigations, by parents monitoring minor children, or by caregivers of elderly individuals with a physician’s recommendation. Business owners may also use trackers for legitimate commercial purposes on company-owned vehicles.
However, using a tracking device to monitor someone without their consent for personal reasons—especially after a romantic relationship has ended—is illegal and may result in felony charges.
“It’s not as clear-cut as people think,” Budensiek said, “but when it comes to stalking, you have to prove intent and that’s often the hardest part.”
In this case, however, MCSO had a significant advantage: physical evidence of the tracker, paired with the victim’s detailed observations and a clear pattern of unwanted proximity.
Stalking Cases Are Difficult to Prove
Despite the arrest, Sheriff Budensiek acknowledged that stalking cases remain among the hardest crimes to prosecute.
“You have to have almost a confession from the stalker or video surveillance that shows them coming by at weird times,” he said. “Just happening to end up in the same place as the person that you’re trying to follow is really hard to prove that they didn’t just accidentally bump into each other.”
In this incident, however, investigators were able to draw a more definitive line. Guidry reportedly drove all the way to Orlando and was once again spotted near the woman—an encounter authorities say was no coincidence.
What to Do If You Suspect You’re Being Tracked
Sheriff Budensiek urges anyone who suspects they may be a stalking victim to take action immediately:
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Document unusual occurrences
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Save messages or images that suggest surveillance
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Physically inspect vehicles, bags, and belongings
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Report concerns to local law enforcement
“If someone keeps appearing where they shouldn’t be, trust your instincts. Have your vehicle searched thoroughly. If something is found, we can investigate and potentially make an arrest.”
A Growing Concern
As technology advances and devices become more discreet, law enforcement officials across Florida say they expect these kinds of cases to become more common. The hope, Budensiek said, is that raising public awareness will help prevent stalking before it escalates into something worse.
Grant Guidry remains in custody as of this report. His case is pending adjudication.
Sources:
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Martin County Sheriff’s Office Official Statements
