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Construction Equipment 2004 Theft Study

Study Shows Significant Increase in Professional Theft Rings

WESTWOOD, Mass., Oct. 12 -- LoJack Corporation today announced the results of its fourth annual Construction Equipment Theft Report, which provides valuable information on the growing problem of equipment theft that costs construction companies up to $1 billion per year in lost assets.* According to the study, which analyzed LoJack stolen vehicle recovery reports for the calendar year 2004, more than $12,800,000 in stolen construction equipment assets were tracked and recovered by LoJack in 2004, up 42 percent from 2003.

Theft Rings on the Rise

This year's study showed a dramatic rise in the number of professional theft rings and chop shops discovered by law enforcement through tracking stolen construction equipment protected with a LoJack system. In 2004, recoveries of LoJack-equipped construction equipment led police to locate 12 theft rings and seven chop shops, up from three theft rings and two chop shops in 2003.

"Professional thieves view construction theft as a highly lucrative business opportunity and we see this problem increasing year after year," said Richard T. Riley, President and COO of LoJack Corporation. "As lucrative as theft is for the thieves, it is doubly costly for the victims. Construction companies not only have to pay to replace their equipment, they also lose valuable revenue because of business downtime. Installing a LoJack-type system is a precaution that companies can take to effectively protect their businesses from the costly problem of theft."

  Theft is on the rise in the construction industry for a number of reasons.

   * A title and registration for equipment is not mandated, making it
     harder for equipment to be traced back to owners and, hence, easier for
     thieves to get away with the crime
   * Crime of this nature is driven by supply and demand and construction
     equipment is in high demand, making this a lucrative business
     opportunity for thieves
   * Many construction sites have inadequate security and sites are often in
     unsecured, remote locations
   * Equipment often have "open" cabs, making it easy for thieves to get in
     and do their handy work
   * Thieves can often access universal keys that can start many pieces of
     equipment and/or vehicles

  Continuing Trends: Popular Equipment Are Still Popular Theft Targets

As in the prior year, the study found that the newer equipment on the job site are most common theft targets because of higher resale value. The types of equipment most frequency stolen are (in order): loaders, skid steers, generators, air compressors, dump trucks, welders and untethered trailers, light utility/work trucks and forklifts. These equipment types represented 81 percent of all construction equipment recoveries documented by LoJack last year. More than 72 percent of the equipment stolen and recovered was five years old or less.

The LoJack report found that rates of construction equipment theft and recovery were again highest in those states where rapid growth or rebuilding had fueled more construction projects. Additionally, states with warmer weather have more construction year-round, translating into more opportunities for thieves. California was the most active area with 25 percent of the total recoveries; Florida was next at 19 percent, followed by Texas at 16 percent.

Fast Recovery Remains Key

The value of rapid recovery of stolen construction equipment was again revealed in the report. Typically, the longer a piece of equipment is missing, the greater the likelihood it will not be found or, if it is found, it will be significantly damaged. A full 78 percent of the LoJack-equipped construction equipment reported stolen in 2004 was recovered by law enforcement in less than 24 hours, with 19 percent recovered in less than one hour. The majority of the equipment recovered with LoJack was undamaged.

How LoJack Works

The LoJack System is a time-tested, radio frequency-based stolen vehicle recovery system. Certified technicians install the LoJack system covertly in one of many possible locations on an individual piece of equipment. If a piece of equipment installed with LoJack is stolen, the owner files a stolen vehicle report with the police to automatically begin the activation process. A silent radio signal is sent directly to the equipment to activate the hidden LoJack transponder. The silent radio frequency signal is picked up by LoJack Police Tracking Computers (PTCs) that are installed in law enforcement vehicles (police cruisers and aviation units), enabling them to quickly track and recover the stolen vehicle. The signals pinpoint the location and lead police to a rapid recovery.

About the Study

The 2004 LoJack Construction Equipment Theft Report is based on state theft statistics and equipment recoveries documented by LoJack in 21 states from January to December 2004. LoJack intends to track, analyze, and publish construction equipment theft and recovery data each year to provide statistics and trends for the construction industry.

About LoJack Corporation

LoJack Corporation, the premier worldwide marketer of tracking and recovery systems for valuable mobile assets, is the undisputed leader in global stolen vehicle recovery. Its Stolen Vehicle Recovery System has helped recover more than $3 billion in global assets. The system is uniquely integrated into law enforcement agencies in the United States that use LoJack's in-vehicle tracking equipment to recover stolen assets, including cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, construction equipment and motorcycles. LoJack operates in 23 states and the District of Columbia, representing areas of the country with the greatest population density, and highest number of new vehicle sales and incidence of vehicle theft. In addition, LoJack technology is utilized by law enforcement and security organizations in more than 25 countries throughout Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia.

*Source: The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)