GTlogolightBy Pauline France

GearTrack, a Chicago-based start-up company run in part by Molly Driessen and founded by sister-in-law Bridget Driessen, recently celebrated its official launch and major victory by recovering two valuable stolen mandolins owned by Vancouver, Wash., musicians Rocky and Deb Blakewood, who had registered their instruments on the site.

“We’re so excited to have a success story,” said GearTrack founder Bridget Driessen. “Whether you register your instruments before a theft or after, GearTrack really works.”

Through advance registration, GearTrack users can catalog and organize instruments securely in the cloud. Victims of theft can tag gear as stolen and benefit from Facebook and Twitter blasts and email newsletters that reach a concerned community of 4000 members.

The site is free for stolen items and up to 5 listings. Learn more about how GearTrack works here.