LoJack® System Helps Police Recover Stolen John Deere 310 Backhoe
- September 17, 2014
- recovery stories
On September 16th, 2014 the owners of a 2004 John Deere 310 Backhoe noticed the backhoe was missing from their construction site in Orange County, FL. They contacted the police to report that their equipment was stolen.
Police verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the John Deere.
Twenty Five minutes later, officers picked up the silent LoJack® homing signals from the stolen John Deere with the LoJack® Police Tracking Computers (PTC) that are installed in patrol vehicles and aircraft. Following the directional and audible cues from the PTC, police tracked the vehicle to an industrial area in Orange County, FL. The location is a storage yard for trucks and construction equipment.
Upon arrival at the scene, the police observed the Backhoe being operated behind two parked large trucks. The person operating the equipment was the owner of the property. He was interviewed by police and stated that a male had brought the backhoe to the lot the previous day inquiring about storing it at the location. The owner quoted him a price of $100.00 dollars a week. The male offered to allow him to use the equipment for the first week and stated he would return next week to pay him for the second week.
The investigation continues at this time and the property owner has been cooperating including providing video of the male that brought the equipment to the location.
The John Deere Backhoe, with an approximate value of $48,000, was returned to the owners. The LoJack® System was just installed in the John Deere in August 2014.