LoJack Corp. this week unveiled its wrap-up of the year’s top recoveries of stolen pieces of equipment that were equipped with a LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System.
• Best Story about Getting the Bad Guys: Deputies with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona tracked a stolen Ingersoll Rand air compressor to a remote housing area where they recovered the compressor and a stolen Dodge flatbed work truck, as well as thousands of dollars worth of computers and related equipment from a recent burglary. They found illegal drugs and several guns. Two suspects were booked on multiple theft charge, and a third had several outstanding arrest warrants.
• Fastest Chop Shop Bust: A 2007 Caterpillar forklift was reported stolen and within 10 minutes the forklift was located on a flatbed tow truck. A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department helicopter was brought in to assist in stopping the vehicle and two suspects were apprehended. Fontana, Calif., police recovered five vehicles valued at more than $100,000 and arrested four suspects.
• Great Save in a Ship Container: A 2006 yellow John Deere front-end loader/backhoe was stolen from a construction site near the Florida Turnpike. A deputy with the Broward County Sheriff’s office tracked the radio frequency signal to a freighter docked on the Intracoastal Waterway being loaded and bound for Costa Rica, Venezuela and other South American countries. Police were able to pinpoint the container with the LoJack-equipped backhoe and when it was opened, another stolen backhoe was found.
• Most Often Recovered Equipment: The owner reported a 2005 Lincoln welder stolen and within minutes officers with the Dallas Police Department tracked the equipment to a house where they found the welder in a garage. Upon investigation, police discovered the unit had been stolen five times.
• Best Big City Recovery: Two 2007 Case 580 front loader backhoes were stolen from a construction site in Chicago. Police tracked the LoJack signal to I-94 South and converged on a Freightliner truck towing a flatbed trailer with both backhoes. The driver was arrested and both backhoes, valued at more than $100,000 were recovered.
