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Local Voices

Canton Based LoJack 'Treats' Car Owners with Top Tips to Avoid Car Theft 'Tricks' During Scariest Day of the Year

In preparation for Halloween, the most popular holiday for vehicle theft, LoJack Corporation has announced tips for car owners to protect their vehicles. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau*, more than 2,300 vehicles were stolen on Halloween in 2011 (latest available data) – making it the most popular holiday for auto thieves and the scariest day of the year for car owners looking to protect their valuable assets.

LoJack encourages drivers to not become a victim of auto theft this Halloween season by protecting your property and adhering to the following safety tips for vehicle protection:

  • Ward off “evil spirits”: Thieves often seek the "easiest" target – alarms or anti-theft devices can help ward off criminals
  • Treat your keys like candy – never leave them unattended: Even if you are idling while the kids collect candy, never leave a key or key fob in the vehicle and always lock car doors and windows
  • Are you afraid of the dark?: A flashlight may help around the neighborhood on Halloween, but it won’t help your car. Park in busy, well lit areas to deter thieves from doing their dirty work 
  • Don’t let your house be haunted by ‘Tricksters’: Never program your home address as “home” in your GPS – it’s an easy way for a thief to find your house and gain access to it
  • Protect your Halloween ‘Treats’: Hide all valuables, as they entice thieves to take your car — and what's inside

The company also announced its Spookiest Auto Theft Recovery Stories for 2013 featured on the company’s Auto Theft Blog:

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1. American ‘Classic Car’ Horror Story. Imagine how scary it would be to step outside and find out that your beautiful 1966 Ford Mustang convertible was missing. Well, that’s what happened to a Mustang owner in California earlier this year. Luckily, a LoJack® System was installed – and helped get the car back. It was the second time this year that the LoJack System had helped recover the vehicle!

2. The modern day Margaret and Carrie White. You think your family might get crazy spooky sometimes? Check out the link to this rather insane story from Massachusetts, in which a LoJack System helped bust this mother-daughter criminal twosome.

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3. The Not-so-Invisible Man. This is a case of so-stupid-it’s-scary. In this story, the LoJack System helped authorities recover a 2008 Scion XB; the vehicle was recovered intact, and a male suspect in the theft was soon identified – because he inadvertently left his identification in the stolen vehicle!

4. Breaking Bad gone…Bad. While police in Southern California used the LoJack System to track down and recover a stolen Melroe Bobcat Skid Steer, they stumbled upon something a LOT more insidious. Authorities entered the junk salvage yard where the Skid Steer was held, they found 49 large bundles of marijuana (weighing approx. 600 lbs.), methamphetamine, a loaded .44 caliber hand gun and several shotguns; police arrested several individuals in the salvage yard. One suspect admitted that he had purchased the stolen Bobcat for $2,000, and had also stolen a van with the marijuana inside.

“Each year, we see a tremendous amount of vehicle theft on Halloween,” said Patrick Clancy, Vice President of LoJack’s Law Enforcement Division. “Auto theft on Halloween isn’t just a case of kids’ joy riding anymore, but rather sophisticated criminals whose sole purpose is to find new ways to elude authorities and profit from the theft of stolen vehicles. That is why LoJack is working with law enforcement agencies across the country to help prevent auto thefts and promote safe driving habits, not just on Halloween, but every day.”

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