The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office located an elderly man within 17 minutes using an electronic tracking system. He was been reported missing on Thursday.

According to police, 76-year-old Barrington “Barry” Robinson walked away from his residence shortly after 5 p.m. Robinson reportedly suffers from dementia and police listed him as endangered.

Robinson’s family had also reported him missing in February. He was located after several hours.

When Robinson’s family reported him missing on Thursday, police were informed that he was wearing a SafetyNet bracelet. Deputies were able to obtain the frequency number for Robinson and relay the information to other deputies possessing the SafetyNet tracking equipment.

The Sheriff’s Office used a helicopter equipped with a LoJack SafetyNet receiver and was able to determine Robinson’s location. The helicopter then notified patrol units who located Robinson at the intersection of Anderson Road and Elmfield Drive.

In September 2009, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Tampa Police Department launched Project Lifesaver. The program is designed for citizens with cognitive disorders. The program drastically reduces the time and manpower involved in locating people who have been reported missing.

Each Project Lifesaver client who is monitored by LoJack SafetyNet, has a transmitter attached to his or her wrist known as a “Personal Locator Unit.” When that person cannot be located, deputies who are specifically trained to utilize the equipment are contacted to conduct the search.