Auto Theft Recoveries Soar During COVID-19 Lockdown

LoJack^®, a brand of CalAmp (Nasdaq: CAMP) and a leader in stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) and innovative automotive services, today announced auto theft recoveries in the U.S. jumped 15 percent in April 2020 over April 2019 and continued to grow in May, outpacing last year’s number at this time by 11 percent. The report indicates an increase in auto theft recoveries, and highlights changes from the same period last year to date, demonstrating that while auto theft is on the rise during the COVID-19 lockdown, consumers must stay vigilant and protect their vehicles.

While essential workers travel to and from work and others have sheltered in place, auto thieves continue to operate during a global pandemic according to LoJack’s U.S. Recoveries Trends report. The report found that the U.S. — during the rising spread of COVID-19 — saw a big increase in stolen vehicle recovery across the country in April 2020 compared with April 2019. In May, the following states saw a significant increase in auto theft recoveries:

• California increased 35 percent
• Colorado increased 20 percent
• Washington State increased 25 percent

With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, LoJack and CalAmp urge drivers to take these simple precautions:

• Try to park your car in well-lit areas or within range of security cameras
• Don’t leave valuables in plain sight in your vehicle
• Double check to make sure your vehicle is locked
• Don’t leave windows or sunroofs cracked and don’t leave your car running unattended
• Be mindful of where you leave your keys or key fob; don’t leave a spare key in the vehicle

“It’s clear that auto thieves have been hard at work during the pandemic,” said Justin Schmid, senior vice president, general manager of LoJack Global. “The cost of losing a vehicle to theft during a time like this where many people have lost their jobs and income builds on already elevated stress levels and an experience that no one wants to face. It’s important to LoJack and CalAmp that we share the facts and equip Americans with solutions that protect their families and bring peace of mind during an already chaotic time.”

Stories across the U.S., including a nurse in Boston who had her car stolen in April from her driveway while between shifts at the local hospital, remind us that no one is immune. With COVID-19 continuing to impact communities, auto theft should be the least of one’s worries, including frontline workers. Between their telematics-based connected car app SureDrive™ and the traditional LoJack^® System technology, LoJack offers a variety of solutions to protect vehicles and provide additional support for drivers, with features including:

• Stolen Vehicle Location Assist: Provides trained U.S.-based agents to coordinate directly with law enforcement to help track and locate a stolen vehicle.
• CrashBoxx^™: Sends instant crash alerts to loved ones with trained U.S.-based agents available to help provide timely assistance and facilitate emergency response
• Tripwire^™ Early Warning: Enables proactive monitoring and alerts consumers of unexpected car movement, such as when towed or stolen.
• Virtual Boundaries: Allows consumers to set easily configurable boundaries that send notifications when loved ones arrive at their destination.
• Destination Search: Displays integrated and searchable landmarks such as emergency rooms, gas stations, car washes, or other key destinations.
• Where’s My Car: Delivers real-time location of your vehicle, whether driving or parked.
• Speed Alerts: Enables parents to set a speed threshold and receive alerts if a teen driver or other loved one goes faster than they should

The LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System consistently delivers a 90% plus recovery rate on cars, trucks, and SUVs, and over $1 billion worth of LoJack-equipped vehicles have been recovered in the U.S. alone^*.

“We are committed to supporting families with innovative solutions that protect their vehicles and loved ones, consistent with the proven LoJack brand promise of safety and security for the road ahead,” said Schmid.

*LoJack^® unit activation is contingent upon the vehicle being located within LoJack’s SVRU coverage area that spans counties across 29 states throughout the U.S. and the District of Columbia. You may find LoJack’s coverage areas at www.lojack.com/coverage or by calling 1-800-4-LoJack. Used car values are best estimates derived from NADA Guide web services values and clean retail value from NADAGuides.com for the make, model and year of the vehicle in the month it was recovered.