Twenty of Manitoba's worst car thieves will soon have every movement tracked -- thanks to an electronic ankle bracelet.

Tuesday the provincial government announced it is entering a one-year pilot project that will see young car thieves fitted with electronic ankle bracelets.

"The GPS monitoring system adds an extra layer of supervision that we hope will add to the success of Manitoba's broader strategy to tackle auto theft," said Attorney General and Justice Minister Dave Chomiak in a news release. "The goal is to enhance public safety while helping youth comply with court-ordered conditions."

The ankle bracelets worn by the young offenders receive signals from satellites and cell phone towers, and then send information about their whereabouts back to a monitoring centre.

Centre monitors movement

An alert sounds if there are problems with the device, if the young offender removes it, if they leave the area they are restricted to or go somewhere they are not allowed.

When an alert sounds, correctional staff is called and contact the young offender through a restricted-use cell phone to find out what's going on.

If there's no response or if the offender's explanation is inadequate, corrections staff will contact the police to take action.

Officers in the Winnipeg Police Stolen Auto Unit hope the bracelets will become a deterrent for would-be thieves.

"There's a lot of peer pressure to go out and do things you might not want to do," said Sgt. Doug Safioles. "In this case he may be able to save face with a youth. He's able to say 'I'm not going out. I'm being monitored'."

The announcement comes just a week after a Winnipeg cab driver was killed after his taxi was hit by the driver of a stolen truck. Seven people are now charged in the crime.

Today police announced they have arrested a 16-year-old and 20-year-old man.

Each tracking device costs about $2,500. Manitoba is piggy backing with the provincial government in Nova Scotia which already has a system in place.

The pilot project is expected to last several months before the government decides whether or not it works.

A demonstration of the technology for the media is being scheduled for later this month.

With a story from CTV'S Crimewatch reporter Kelly Dehn.