The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

LoJack and its Global Licensee Network Collaborate to Make Transatlantic Recovery of Stolen Commercial Equipment


PHOTO

Strength of RF Technology Enables Recovery From the Hold of a Cargo Ship

WESTWOOD, MA - February 14, 2008: LoJack Corporation, the leading global provider of recovery systems for stolen mobile assets, today announced its Stolen Vehicle Recovery System for commercial equipment led U.S. Customs investigators based in Houston, Texas to secure and seize three pieces of construction equipment that were fraudulently rented in Gennevilliers, France. The equipment, valued at nearly $90,000, was recovered despite being hidden in containers buried deep in the hold of a cargo ship.

LoJack Corporation and Traqueur worked closely with law enforcement and customs officials to track the stolen equipment as it traveled across Europe through France, Belgium, England and Germany, before being shipped overseas to ports in South Carolina, Florida and Texas.

"This transatlantic recovery is yet another example of the global effectiveness of LoJack's Radio Frequency (RF) technology, which over time has proven again and again to be the very best solution for finding and recovering stolen equipment." said Ronald V. Waters, LoJack President and COO. "Because RF technology emits silent signals, it is effective even when the asset is hidden in a steel container in the bowels of a ship. This recovery not only proves the effectiveness of our technology, it also demonstrates the quality working relationship LoJack has with law enforcement officials worldwide."

About the Recovery
On Tuesday, January 8, LoJack's French licensee -- Traqueur -- was notified that one of the largest rental construction equipment companies in France -- Kiloutou -- had three pieces of equipment stolen by a customer who acted as a general manager of what turned out to be a fictitious construction company. After learning that a Komatsu loader was equipped with LoJack, Traqueur immediately activated the system and contacted members of the LoJack Network throughout Europe. One week later, British Law Enforcement in Tilbury Harbor, Liverpool, England, was able to track the silent LoJack signal to a cargo ship that was arriving from Anvers, Belgium. After detecting that the LoJack signal originated from a suspected container deep in the ship's hold and the final destination was routed to Galveston-Houston, officials determined the best course of action was to follow the ships' travels.

French Customs coordinated with U.S. Customs to monitor the container. With radio contact re-established with the Komatsu loader at every port of call, the ship was tracked in Charleston, South Carolina and Miami, Florida before landing in Houston, Texas. On Friday, February 1, U.S. Customs unloaded and seized the Komatsu loader, a JCB excavator, and hydraulic hammer in addition to a skid steer stolen from another French company. The investigation by both U.S. and French Customs is ongoing.