LoJack Releases Second Annual Vehicle Theft Recovery Report

WESTWOOD, Mass., April 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LoJack Corporation (NASDAQ: LOJN) today released its second annual Vehicle Theft Recovery Report, highlighting results from its 2010 recoveries that provide valuable information on the ongoing issue of vehicle theft.  In 2010, the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System helped law enforcement recover 10,649 stolen vehicles*.  Hondas topped the list of imports, with the 2000 Honda Civic ranking as LoJack's most stolen vehicle recovered.  GMs were the most recovered domestic vehicles. While the FBI's latest Uniform Crime Report indicated that the national recovery rate of stolen vehicles has hit a 25-year low of nearly 57 percent, 90 percent of LoJack-equipped vehicles that were reported stolen in 2010 were recovered.

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"This year's report underscores the continuation of a critical trend regarding the recovery rates of stolen vehicles," said Patrick Clancy, Vice President of Law Enforcement, LoJack Corporation.  "Across the country, an astounding 43.2 percent of stolen vehicles were not recovered.  What this tells us is that today's sophisticated thieves are getting around different means of protection—including smart keys—and getting away with theft.  To protect cars today, it takes a stolen vehicle recovery system like LoJack's that is covert, so that thieves cannot easily find and disengage it; has Radio Frequency technology, which enables the vehicle to be tracked even if it is in hidden in areas that obstruct GPS and/or cellular signals; and most importantly, is directly integrated with law enforcement."

*Cars, SUVs, light trucks and motorcycles

Following are LoJack's findings for 2010:

While older sedans continue to attract thieves, our data shows criminals are also targeting newer vehicles.  The list below (compiled for the first time this year) includes the top five stolen vehicles that are recovered and five years old or less.  It should be noted that many of these vehicles can come equipped with tracking devices based on GPS and cellular technology.

"While the national vehicle theft rate has decreased somewhat in recent years, it remains a problem that cost consumers $5.2 billion in lost assets in 2009.  Moreover, we are starting to see vehicle theft rising again in certain areas of the country, particularly in cities within Southern and Central California," said Clancy.  "We've also seen evidence of this type of theft rising in select cities in other states on our top 10 list including New York, so people everywhere need to be increasingly vigilant about protecting their vehicles from this costly and potentially disruptive problem."

Other Recovery Facts:

• Oldest Stolen Vehicle Recovered: 1956 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
• Most Expensive Stolen Vehicle Recovered: 2009 Mercedes Benz-SL Class worth approximately $101,725
• Multiple Recoveries: Police in different parts of the country recovered four vehicles on the same date at precisely the same time (August 28 at 1:28 p.m.)  
• First Recovery of the Year: 2002 Toyota Highlander on January 1 at 12:28 a.m.
• Last Recovery of the Year: 2007 Cadillac Escalade on December 31 at 8:15 p.m.

About the Report

The 2010 LoJack Vehicle Theft Recovery Report is based on state theft statistics and vehicle recoveries documented by LoJack in 28 states from January to December 2010.  LoJack will continue to issue this report annually to provide the industry with valuable statistics and trend information. 

About LoJack Corporation

LoJack Corporation, the company that invented the stolen vehicle recovery market more than two decades ago, is the global leader in finding and recovering a wide range of mobile assets including cars, construction equipment and motorcycles—having recovered nearly $4 billion USD in stolen assets worldwide.   In today's rapidly changing world, LoJack's core competencies are more valuable and more relevant than ever as they are now being applied into new areas, such as the prevention, detection and recovery of stolen cargo and finding and rescuing people with cognitive conditions such as autism and Alzheimer's. LoJack has the proven processes, ultimate technology for recovery—Radio Frequency—and unique integration with law enforcement agencies, making its offerings effective solutions that not only deliver a wide range of recoveries, but also enhance the safety of the public on a global level.  LoJack's Stolen Vehicle Recovery System operates in 28 states and the District of Columbia, and in more than 30 countries throughout North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.  For more information, visit www.lojack.com, www.twitter.com/LoJackCorp or www.Facebook.com/LoJackCorp.

To see how the police use LoJack, please visit http://www.youtube.com/LoJackCorp.

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Patrick Clancy

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SOURCE LoJack Corporation