LoJack® System Helps Law Enforcement Recover a Stolen Caterpillar 287-B skid steer loader
- March 25, 2016
- recovery stories
The operator of a 2006 Caterpillar 287-B skid steer loader arrived at their job site and discovered their piece of construction equipment missing. They contacted the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office to report their loader stolen. The responding deputy prepared a stolen vehicle report, theft affidavit and had the vehicle’s information entered into the state and federal crime information computers.
Later that afternoon, while on routine patrol, a Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy picked up the silent LoJack signal from the 287-B skid steer loader on their on-board LoJack Police Tracking Computer (PTC). The deputy began tracking the stolen skid steer by following the directional and audible cues on the PTC screen. The deputy, along with their backup and the Charlotte County SO aviation helicopter, located the skid steer loader’s LoJack signal emanating from a garage in 7000 block of Grady Drive, North Fort Myers. The Lee County SO auto theft unit responded to the scene and continued the investigation. They spoke with the owner of the house where they believed the stolen loader was located. The owner advised that they had purchased the piece of construction equipment earlier in the day for $6,500.00 and a 2001 Honda ATV. The detective advised the home owner that the loader they purchased was stolen and would be confiscated. The skid steer loader was recovered, towed to the police impound yard for safekeeping and removed from state and federal crime information computer systems.
The LoJack® System was installed in the 2006 Caterpillar 287-B skid steer loader in August 2012.