SALT LAKE CITY — Several Utah law enforcement agencies say a new device being introduced in the state by a private company should help them recover stolen vehicles faster.
A program called the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System has been tested in Utah the past few months and is ready to make its debut. Under the program, a small wireless transceiver is placed on a person's vehicle. Its location is hidden and unknown even to the owner.
If the vehicle is stolen, police will be able to track it without being noticed themselves.
Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank joined members of the Utah Highway Patrol Utah Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division to introduce the new program. One of biggest reasons local law enforcement will be using the new devices is because LoJack is providing the equipment police will need for free.
It will cost consumers about $700 to have a tracking device installed. Police note, however, that already they've seen success from the program.
In April, police were able to locate a vehicle 11 minutes after it was reported stolen. In November, a vehicle was stolen in Taylorsville, and LoJack located it in an hour later in West Jordan.
DMV officers said they recently tracked a stolen vehicle using LoJack to a chop shop where several more stolen cars were located. A "ping" or a "hit" on a stolen vehicle using LoJack will be enough to secure a search warrant if the trail leads inside a structure, according to law enforcement.
In addition to personal vehicles, police say the device could help in the recovery of trailers or construction equipment.
Although law enforcers realize not everyone will be able to afford the hefty price tag, Burbank said it may be appealing to some. For instance, he said Hondas, specifically Civics and Accords, are still the most-stolen vehicles in Salt Lake City. The reason is street racing, he said. Street racers will look for Hondas to replace parts that they either burned up during a race or need for an upcoming race.
Although stolen vehicles are not always the highest priority call for police, Burbank said it is the highest priority for a person who has never been a crime victim before, or a person who depends on a vehicle to get around.
"It's a big impact on a single individual," he said. "This becomes a significant problem for them."
Law enforcers say they are not endorsing any particular product, but because it has been proven to work and comes to them with zero extra cost, they consider it one more tool available for them to properly do their jobs.
Utah is the 28th state to use the LoJack system.
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