CLEVELAND – The Ohio State Highway Patrol and Independence Police Department recovered two stolen vehicles through a police tracking computer alert in Cleveland yesterday morning.

LoJack’s Police Tracking Computers (PTCs) are installed in law enforcement vehicles, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to recover stolen vehicles by tracking radio transmissions from the LoJack-equipped stolen vehicle.

At 11:50a.m. yesterday, a stolen 1992 GMC Yukon was located on Force Street in Cleveland by troopers and officers from the Independence Police Department. Officers from the Cleveland Police Department were called to the house by the troopers and the Yukon was discovered in the back of the housing area. Also found was a 1994 Chevrolet Astro Van that was reported stolen on September 8, 2006. The Astro Van was not equipped with LoJack.

The GMC Yukon was recovered less than 45 minutes after a stolen vehicle entry was made by the Cleveland Police Department into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). The vehicle’s LoJack transmitter was activated when the vehicle was entered as stolen into the NCIC database.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, vehicle theft is the costliest property crime in the United States, costing consumers more than $8.4 billion annually. The popularity of mini vans, pick-up trucks, and sport utility vehicles is making them an increasingly attractive target for auto thieves. Last year, the Patrol recovered 625 stolen vehicles worth over $3.8 million.

Currently, the Patrol has 19 patrol vehicles and one aircraft with the LoJack PTCs installed.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s investigation is ongoing.

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