LoJack System Helps the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles License and Theft Bureau Recover Stolen Kubota L2900 Tractor and John Deere Tractor
- August 6, 2019
- pcappitelli
Vehicle: 2006 Kubota L2900 Tractor
Activation: Wilmington Police Department, Wilmington, NC
Recovery: North Carolina Div. of Motor Vehicles License And Theft Bureau, Wilmington, NC
Dealership: Commercial Sales
The owner of a 2006 Kubota L2900 Tractor discovered the equipment missing from a job site. It was determined that the tractor had not been seen in a week. After checking with employees it was determined the Kubota stolen. The business owner contacted the Wilmington Police Department, Wilmington, NC to report the theft. The Wilmington Police Department verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Kubota.
Shortly after the vehicle was entered into the National Crime Computer Database, Inspectors from the North Carolina Div. of Motor Vehicles License and Theft Bureau picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Kubota with the LoJack Police Tracking Computers (PTC) installed in patrol vehicles and aircraft. Following the directional and audible cues from the PTC, the Officer tracked the vehicle to a residential area and determined that it was behind a residence.
The Agents spoke to the homeowner who gave consent to search the property. The homeowner informed the Agents that the man building the privacy around her backyard had stored two tractors and a flatbed trailer in her backyard while he was doing the work. She also informed them that he had been painting one of the tractors and had it parked behind an out building with a section of privacy fence propped up concealing it. The Agents located the stolen Kubota tractor behind the homeowner’s out building. They also observed that stickers bearing victim’s company name were removed.
The Agents examined a John Deere tractor that the homeowner said the man brought to the residence. The Agents found that the product identification number for the John Deere had been removed. The Agents recorded the VIN for the trailer and discovered an AgriMetal Industrial blower on the trailer. During the investigation, and through the assistance with the NICB, the Agents were able to determine that the John Deere and the AgriMetal Industrial blower were stolen. They determined that the trailer was not stolen and belonged to the suspect’s father. The homeowner cooperated fully and provided the name of the suspect and phone number. The Agents were able to speak to him by phone; however, he has dodged efforts to meet with them for an interview. The Agents will be seeking warrants for the suspect for Possession of Stolen Property and Possession of a Vehicle with an Altered or Obliterated Vehicle Identification Number.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Kubota in April 2015 through Commercial Sales.