THP Aviation Unit, Criminal Investigation Division Recover Stolen Construction Equipment

NASHVILLE--- The Tennessee Highway Patrol Aviation Unit and Criminal Investigation Division (CID) helped recover two stolen pieces of construction equipment on December 26 in Putnam County. One was illegally removed from a job site in Rutherford County, while the other was stolen from Williamson County. The value of the two recoveries exceeds $100,000.

On November 26, the owner of a 2007 Kubota Mini Excavator reported the equipment stolen to the Murfreesboro Police Department. Murfreesboro PD then entered the excavator information into the state and federal crime computers, activating the LoJack®   transponder concealed in the equipment. LoJack® is the only theft recovery system directly operated by law enforcement.

On December 23, the THP Aviation Unit was dispatched to assist with a search and rescue operation in Putnam County, when the crew’s police tracking computer detected a signal from the stolen excavator. The aviation troopers logged the location of the signal and continued with their current assignment. 

A few days later, members of the agency’s Criminal Investigation Division returned to the location recorded by the THP aviation crew and discovered the equipment at a homeowner’s construction site. Following the initial investigation, information was developed that led to the recovery of a 2012 Caterpillar Mini Excavator from a second location. The mini excavator was stolen on December 5 in Williamson County.

The equipment was taken to the local Highway Patrol lot for further processing.

This is the first LoJack recovery made by the THP Aviation Unit. The LoJack tracking equipment is currently installed in two of the THP choppers. 

This case remains under investigation.

LoJack® Corporation (NASDAQ: LOJN) is the premier worldwide provider of tracking and recovery systems. More than 25 years ago, LoJack Corporation created the stolen vehicle recovery category and has since earned a reputation as the proven global leader in that market segment. The company has recovered more than 90 percent of stolen cars, SUVs and light trucks in the U.S. that are equipped with the LoJack® System and have been reported stolen, and has helped recover nearly $4 billion (USD) in stolen global assets equipped with the LoJack system.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (TN.Gov/safety) mission is to ensure that our state is a safe, secure place in which to live, work and travel; enforce the law with integrity; and provide customer-focused services professionally and efficiently.

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