LoJack Corp., specializing in wireless stolen vehicle recovery technology, on Oct. 1 announced the availability of LoJack Early Warning™, a new stolen vehicle notification system that builds upon LoJack’s recovery solution.

Offered as an added layer of protection, LoJack Early Warning actively notifies consumers when their vehicles are moved without their permission, reducing the amount of time lapsed between the discovery of theft and recovery, and improving the chances of recovering the vehicle before major damage is sustained, according to LoJack.

The LoJack Early Warning Recovery System includes the LoJack product, two Early Warning Key Passes and an Early Warning Motion Sensor. If a vehicle is moved without an Early Warning Key Pass, the vehicle owner is notified in their preferred method(s) of contact. Upon registering with LoJack, vehicle owners can select up to five methods of contact, including home/work phone, cell phone, email and/or text messaging.

Proactively contacting vehicle owners if their car has been moved, LoJack Early Warning gives them a head start on determining whether the vehicle was stolen, so they can immediately file a theft report with the police who will then activate the LoJack system and recover the vehicle more quickly, according to Donna Driscoll, vice president of global marketing at LoJack.

“Our customers have emotional and practical attachments to their vehicles and want to start the recovery process as soon as possible in the event that their car is stolen,” Driscoll said. “We developed the Early Warning Vehicle Recovery System to complement our proven wireless recovery technology with a proactive communications process that provides additional peace of mind for the consumer.”

According to Driscoll, LoJack Early Warning provides a value-added service that complements LoJack’s core wireless stolen vehicle recovery technology.

Available to the consumer since 1986, LoJack says its Stolen Vehicle Recovery System has helped law enforcement and security agencies around the world to return more than 100,000 stolen vehicles to their owners, representing more than $2 billion in recovered assets.

In the United States, one vehicle is stolen every 27 seconds, according to the FBI. On average, a recovered stolen vehicle sustains about $6,000 worth of damage. LoJack-equipped vehicles typically have less than $1,000 worth of damage, and, with the introduction of LoJack Early Warning, "are likely to be recovered even more quickly and in better condition," according to LoJack.

How the LoJack System Works

The patented core LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System includes a small wireless radio-frequency transceiver that is hidden in the vehicle at the time of purchase. Each LoJack system is registered to the vehicle identification number.

Once a stolen vehicle is reported to the police, the vehicle identification number is matched to the LoJack system by state law enforcement computers. After the match, the LoJack system is activated by police, emitting silent radio signals from a small radio transceiver. Law enforcement vehicles and helicopters equipped with LoJack follow these signals to recover the stolen vehicle. Vehicles equipped with LoJack have a 90 percent recovery rate and are typically recovered within 24 hours, according to the company.

Pricing and Availability

LoJack Early Warning is available in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania on Oct. 1, and will be introduced nationally, in all of the company’s market areas, by the end of Q1 2003.

Consumers will pay $795 for the LoJack Early Warning Recovery System. They will also be able to choose from monthly, yearly and one-time service plans.

About LoJack

LoJack Corp. specializes in stolen vehicle recovery technology. In the United States, its stolen vehicle recovery system, utilized by law enforcement agencies, has maintained more than a 90 percent successful recovery rate during the 16 years it has been available to the consumer, according to LoJack.

The LoJack System operates coast-to-coast in 20 states and the District of Columbia, representing the areas of the country with the greatest population density, highest number of new vehicle sales and incidents of vehicle theft.

In addition, LoJack is operated by law enforcement and security organizations in more than 20 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Western Hemisphere.