High-Tech Transponder Recovers $100K In Heavy Equipment

Jan 03, 2014 at 10:21 am by bryan


The Tennessee Highway Patrol Aviation Unit and Criminal Investigation Division (CID) helped recover costly construction equipment stolen the day after Christmas from Rutherford and neighboring Williamson counties. The value of the two recoveries exceeds $100,000.

On November 26, 2013, the owner of a 2007 Kubota Mini Excavator told Murfreesboro Police that the equipment stolen had a theft recovery transponder built into it. Local officers were able to activate the transponder. 

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On December 23rd, the THP Aviation Unit was dispatched to assist with a search and rescue operation in Putnam County, when the crew’s police tracking computer detected a signal from the stolen excavator. The aviation troopers logged the location of the signal and continued with their current assignment. 

A few days later, members of the agency’s Criminal Investigation Division returned to the location recorded by the THP aviation crew and discovered the equipment at a homeowner’s construction site. Following the initial investigation, information was developed that led to the recovery of a 2012 Caterpillar Mini Excavator from a second location. The mini excavator was stolen on December 5, 2013 in Williamson County.

The equipment was taken to the local Highway Patrol lot for further processing.

This is the first LoJack recovery made by the THP Aviation Unit. The LoJack tracking equipment is currently installed in two of the state's choppers. 

This case remains under investigation.

LoJack® Corporation (NASDAQ: LOJN) is the premier worldwide provider of tracking and recovery systems. More than 25 years ago, LoJack Corporation created the stolen vehicle recovery category and has since earned a reputation as the proven global leader in that market segment. The company has recovered more than 90 percent of stolen cars, SUVs and light trucks in the U.S. that are equipped with the LoJack® System and have been reported stolen, and has helped recover nearly $4 billion (USD) in stolen global assets equipped with the LoJack system.

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