WESTWOOD, Mass., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LoJack Corporation's Stolen Vehicle Recovery System has enabled California law enforcement uncover a milestone 300th theft ring in the state-this one involving commercial equipment. In this August 2007 recovery, San Bernardino area law enforcement and the San Bernardino County Auto Theft Task Force (SANCATT) tracked a LoJack-equipped concrete pump and discovered a chop shop with multiple pieces of construction equipment and several small trucks valued at nearly $300,000. Three suspects were arrested.
To acknowledge this milestone recovery and the superb ongoing efforts made by local law enforcement to curb vehicle theft in the area, LoJack held an event today at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Aviation Hanger. Awards were presented to officers from SANCATT, the San Bernardino county Sheriff's Department Aviation Unit and the San Bernardino City Unified School District Police Department.
"We're proud to have the opportunity to recognize local law enforcement agencies that have been so instrumental in fighting vehicle and equipment theft in California-not only for this milestone, but for all the recoveries over the past several years," said Ronald V. Waters, LoJack Corporation President and COO. "It is a privilege to be a part of this team, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the National Insurance Crime Bureau. With construction equipment theft growing by more than 70 percent in the past five years, the LoJack System's integration with law enforcement has proven time and again to be a powerful solution that works."
About the Recovery
On August 6, 2007, a pickup truck with an Olin Concrete Pump attached to it was reported stolen. The Ford Pickup was not equipped with LoJack, but fortunately the concrete pump was. The stolen pump was tracked and recovered through a joint effort by the Riverside Sheriff's office, the San Bernardino Unified School District Police and the San Bernardino County Auto Theft Task Force (SANCATT), all of which work closely with LoJack and the National Insurance Crime Bureau. When the pump was found, police also discovered a theft ring that spanned three locations and contained stolen equipment and trucks valued at close to $300,000. Three suspects were arrested who were stealing equipment and selling parts to order.
The LoJack/NICB Education Initiative on Construction Theft Protection
In June of this year, LoJack and NICB, two nationally recognized authorities on vehicle theft and theft prevention, launched a joint educational initiative called the Vehicle Theft Protection Program to help owners of cars, motorcycles, construction equipment and commercial vehicles better understand how to protect their assets from theft. LoJack and NICB have developed a booklet entitled "Get in the Know" that details the steps owners can take to protect their construction equipment-as well as other vehicles- from theft. The booklet is available on LoJack's Knowledge Center at www.lojack.com/theftfacts and on the NICB website at www.nicb.org (click on "Theft & Fraud Awareness").
About LoJack Corporation
LoJack Corporation, the company that invented the stolen vehicle recovery market two decades ago, is the undisputed global leader in recovering valuable mobile assets. The company's time-tested system is optimized for recovering stolen mobile assets through its proven Radio Frequency technology and unique integration with law enforcement agencies in the United States that use LoJack's in-vehicle tracking equipment to recover cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, construction equipment and motorcycles. The company's Stolen Vehicle Recovery System delivers a better than 90 percent success rate for cars and trucks and has helped recover more than $4 billion in stolen LoJack- equipped assets worldwide. Today LoJack operates in 26 states and the District of Columbia, and in 32 countries throughout North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
CONTACT:
Paul McMahon
LoJack Corp.
781-251-4130
Jeanne Bock
Tier One Partners
781-861-5249
Laura Feng
Tier One Partners
978-975-1414