LoJack Corp. revealed its top five construction equipment theft recoveries of 2012. From stolen equipment that was bound for exportation overseas to those cleverly concealed in the deep woods, these recovery stories demonstrate how LoJack protects construction equipment from today’s professional thieves.
#1: Three is a Charm
LoJack Saves Contractor From Third Utility-Trailer Theft
After having two utility trailers stolen despite being equipped with multiple locks and wheel boots, an electrical contractor in Raleigh, N.C., decided to protect his third utility trailer with a LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System. He was the victim once again of theft, but this time LoJack helped him beat the bad guy. Police found the trailer within only two hours of LoJack activation, and arrested the criminal!
#2: Weapons, Bullets and Grenades…Oh My!
LoJacked Equipment Leads Police to Illegal Weapons Cache
Only three minutes after the owners of a John Deere skip loader reported it stolen, flight deputies with the San Bernardino, Calif., Sheriff’s Department picked up the silent LoJack signal and tracked down the location of the loader. Ground units were quickly on the scene and verified that it was indeed the stolen skip loader. While there, deputies found a large cache of weapons and called in the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Bomb Squad to take over the investigation. The recovery not only included the skip loader, but it also netted illegal weapons, a large amount of ammunition, live hand grenades and body armor!
#3: Bound for Trouble
LoJack Cancels Skip Loader’s Trip Overseas
California Highway Patrol began tracking down a skip loader less than 20 minutes after the owners reported it stolen. The LoJack signal led officers to a warehouse in the city of Carson, Calif. Thieves had removed the company names from the loader and planned to ship it out of the U.S., along with multiple other pieces of stolen construction equipment. All were recovered and returned to their owners, thanks to the police and the LoJack System.
#4 What’s Stolen in Vegas, Stays in Vegas
Skid Steer and Other Stolens Found by Las Vegas PD
The owner of an Ingersoll-Rand skid steer contacted the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to report that his equipment had been stolen from a job site in Northwest Las Vegas. Minutes later, officers with the North Las Vegas Police Department picked up the stolen machine's LoJack signal. The officer’s tracked the stolen skid steer to a large warehouse in North Las Vegas where they also located an air compressor that had been reported stolen from a job site in downtown Las Vegas. The suspect is facing multiple felony charges as the investigation continues with police still identifying more victims.
#5 You Can Run, but You Can’t Hide
System Finds Mini Excavator Hidden in the Woods
When employees at a paving company returned to a jobsite in New Britain, Conn., after a long weekend, they discovered their John Deere mini excavator was missing. The owner didn’t realize his equipment had a LoJack device when he reported the theft to local police. Minutes later, K-9 officers from three different towns who were training in the area received the silent LoJack signal coming from the stolen excavator. Using a handheld LoJack Police Tracking Unit, officers discovered the excavator deep in a wooded area. Investigation revealed the thieves entered the area through a gate in the highway sound barrier. While the barrier and surrounding trees prevented the excavator from being observed from any direction, they couldn’t stop the LoJack signal from finding the equipment. The $25,000 excavator was returned to its owner.
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