A Shout-out For LoJack Happy Ending

[daepp]

Excited as all hell to get a stolen tractor back!

Last we saw it, the guys finished with the unit on Saturday before Labor Day at 2pm.
Tuesday morning when they returned - no tractor!
We assumed they had a huge head start - often we're told they end up in Mexico.

11 freaking years ago I added the LoJack to this and 4 others we had recently purchased. We've had tractors stolen before - most of the time we've got approx 15 in the field at any one time - but they've always been really old ones. The cost to replace this one is close to $80K.

Tuesday morning we reported it stolen (as instructed) first to law enforcement, then to LoJack. Both were quite helpful, but the sheriff mentioned that if they are recovered they're quite often stripped or burned. I found a new replacement, turned in a claim to my insurance broker, and prepared for a moderate wait.

Wednesday morning at 8:30am I received a call from the sheriff I'd been dealing with saying the helicopter had found it around midnight Tuesday. They'd sent a tow, and they gave me the address where to pick it up. I sent our truck down to pick it up, along with a check for $362.00, and by noon it was back in our yard to be checked out. And it was perfect!

Anyways - I added LoJack to my 911 a few years back, and it gives me a lot of peace-of-mind. I feel even better knowing that the device still works after 11 years!

At the tow-yard:

[Evans, Marv]

I've been thinking of putting one in my 911. I keep thinking about it & then other things get in the way. I've got to concentrate. With long hoods supposedly drawing so much attention, I'm sure it should be worth it. Trouble is I live fairly close to Mexico.

[masraum]

Impressive!

Any word on the folks that took it? Apprehended?

[daepp]

Originally Posted by masraum

Impressive!

Any word on the folks that took it? Apprehended?

Cops said it was driven down a dry riverbed and found just about 1.5 miles from the point it was stolen. They called the place where it was located "Tweekerville."

I have great compassion for addicts, but it is really getting out of hand in So Cal, and whatever we're doing (not sure what) is def. not working.

They said they were surprised it wasn't stripped like most cars they find. However, if you've ever worked on one of these you'd know how freaking robust they are. Due to the daily abuse they get, ever part weighs a ton, and is secured extremely well. You gotta have real determination - and sometimes a hoist - to get parts off.

[fastfredracing]

So, they just hotwired it and drove it away? That is nuts . We used to joy ride construction equipment when we were kids, but never stole anything , or did any damage .
It was different times, though , they keys were always just left hanging in them .

[John Rogers]

When I had my toy hauler/race car trailer I painted my car number on the roof in black numbers the width of the top! My buddy Ted did the same and his trailer was found within 2 days when he called the police and they had their helos looking for a trailer with his number on top. The sides had already been painted over.

[daepp]

Yeah - our name in bright letters on the top - learned that from a prior conversation with the Sheriff's helo pilot. We recovered that tractor (an oldie-but-goodie but with no LoJack installed) only because the fools parked a new, $200K piece of equipment (that did have a tracker) next to it. The helo pilot saw our name and got a hold of us.

[daepp]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

I've been thinking of putting one in my 911. I keep thinking about it & then other things get in the way. I've got to concentrate. With long hoods supposedly drawing so much attention, I'm sure it should be worth it. Trouble is I live fairly close to Mexico.

It def. makes me sleep a little better. We have roving young men in So Cal who are constantly asking if we want to sell cars - and not all of them classics. And then there are the notes left on it when I duck into the market.

The most disturbing so far was a guy who knocked on the front door and said he'd "seen it driving by." Now I live in a nice community, but I also live on a cul-de-sac. The garage door was only open for maybe a minute, so he must have followed me...

[daepp]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

So, they just hotwired it and drove it away? That is nuts . We used to joy ride construction equipment when we were kids, but never stole anything , or did any damage .
It was different times, though , they keys were always just left hanging in them .

Just saw this question via email.

They didn't hotwire it per se. They pried the locked engine cover open, and managed to reach in and twist the T-handle battery disconnect. Once the circuit was hot, they jammed a screwdriver into the key switch and turned.

We have now purchased a couple of dozen combination pad locks to secure the key switch area, but in truth it could be pried open just about as easily.

[1990C4S]

How well is the lojack hidden? A tweeker won't find it, but real thieves might?

Does lojack have its own back-up battery?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

How well is the lojack hidden? A tweeker won't find it, but real thieves might?

Does lojack have its own back-up battery?

Used to be not even the owner knew where it was, just the installer.

[daepp]

Yeah, as recent as a year ago I had one installed and they still won't begin the work in your presence.

Re battery, the ones I have use both their own and the unit's battery. But they told me they have a new "improved"version with a hi-tech battery - however it must be replaced after ten years. I don't like the sounds of that option.

One of the big selling points for me on LoJack was that you only paid to install

[vash]

welcome home skippy!

[legion]

Interesting. So part of Lojack's business model is that even the placement of the devices is a trade secret. I could see why they'd want to do that as it gives them a competitive advantage over other similar devices and makes their devices harder to locate.

Still, you'd think there'd be some ex Lojack installers out there who know the secrets. I've dealt with the Russian Mob in my job and one of their MO's is to get their associates hired at target businesses and security contractors so that they can study and defeat security measures.

[daepp]

Yeah, the time before last I had them put one on my 72 911. Well, I'm a car guy (geek?) and he's a geek, so I stood and talked to him a while, waiting for him to begin. He eventually told me he couldn't start until he was alone. I protested saying "I need to know what's going on with my totally stock car" and "This isn't your typical install, right?" He assured me he'd done several 911's, gave me the impression that for identical cars they usually go in the same location, and that if I didn't leave I wasn't getting the LoJack. He was very nice about it, but also firm.

FWIW, I think I know where he put it...

[john70t]

Originally Posted by daepp

They said they were surprised it wasn't stripped like most cars they find.

Cars are sometimes stolen and parked for a week in some abandoned lot..then taken to the chop shop.
In case it has a lowjack, the theives don't want home base discovered.

Seems like some pros got on to your gig. Be careful they might be back.

[ted]

Does lowjack still require a police helicopter to be located?

is coverage better with a gps based system?