Riverside, California Sheriff’s Department and Auto Theft Task Force Recover Stolen Caterpillar Backhoe in 30 Minutes Assisted by the LoJack® System
- November 12, 2013
- recovery stories
Construction companies are well aware of the value of the equipment they use, and the problems that arise when one of their machines is stolen. That is why so many of these businesses choose to protect their assets with the LoJack® system. The California based company in this case found out the value of our system when a Caterpillar backhoe stolen from their job site was recovered by police, assisted by LoJack, in just one half hour after activation.
On October 7th, 2013, the Caterpillar’s owner contacted the Riverside Sheriff’s Department to report the incident. Deputies verified the theft and they entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the backhoe.
A short while later, Riverside Sheriff’s Aviation Unit STAR-93 picked up the homing signal from the stolen machine on the LoJack tracking computer installed in their helicopter. Investigators from the Riverside County Auto Theft Interdiction Detail (RAID) joined in the search and were directed to a large property on Gloria Road in Menifee, where the Caterpillar was found on a trailer attached to a big rig. A stolen Bulldozer with ID plates removed was also found at the location. One suspect arrived at the site and was arrested. The backhoe was soon returned to the job site. The total estimated value of both recovered machines was $65,500.
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