Case Backhoe Stolen from Farmington Job Site Recovered by CHP Air & Ground Units Using LoJack
- November 29, 2012
- recovery stories
On Tuesday, November 13, 2012, the owner of a 2005 Case Backhoe 590 Super M returned to his work site in the community of Farmington to discover the equipment stolen. He quickly reported the theft to the California Highway Patrol, who verified the theft and had the backhoe’s information entered into the state and federal crime computers. This routine police action automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the backhoe.
Less than 24 hours later, members of the vehicle theft task force Delta RATT, who had been altered to the theft and were actively searching for the backhoe, began to receive the silent signal from the hidden LoJack transponder secreted in the equipment. Delta RATT investigators, along with flight officers from CHP Air Unit 21, followed the directional and signal strength cues on their LoJack Police Tracking Computers to track the equipment to the 9500 block of Escalon-Bellontra Road.
The air unit was able to see the backhoe hidden between a large travel trailer and a chicken barn at the rear of the property. Investigators made contact with the resident who then walked them to the rear of the property where they recovered the backhoe. The resident provided information about the individual who had dropped off the backhoe two nights earlier. Investigators are seeking a warrant for that suspect.
The victim was contacted and responded to take possession of the backhoe, valued at approximately $50,000.
The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Case Backhoe for J. Fletcher Creamer & Sons in June of 2005.