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A group of Glen Rock officers participated in a training session on Wednesday, as a representative from LoJack drove to different points in town with a transmitter activated in his Chevy Traverse, Police Chief Fred Stahman told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Using Direct Tracking Computers (DTCs) installed in their police cruisers, the officers found the company’s law enforcement liaison each time, even when he tried ditching the vehicle in back of the Starbucks parking lot off Rock Road, Stahman said.
Those officers will teach the rest of the department how to use the trackers, which pick up on any LoJack signal within a five-mile radius.
Police don’t necessarily have to be looking for a stolen car for the DTC to kick in. LoJacks emit a constant FM signal from a hidden transmitter the first 15 minutes after a vehicle is stolen and then keep “pinging” at frequent intervals afterward.
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While creating a unique private-public partnership with police worldwide, the LoJack Corporation has devised the means of tracking not only vehicles, but also laptops, cargo — and people with autism, Alzheimer’s, dementia or Down syndrome who wander off.
Earlier this year, the LoJack system — first launched 25 years ago — helped police smash an international luxury car theft ring operating out of Union County.
“It can also track trucks, motorcycles and construction equipment, as well,” Stahman told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “We can find something someone’s hidden in a garage.”
For a video of exactly how LoJack works, click here:
“They work like a compass,” the chief explained. “Based on the type of signal, they can lead you directly to the vehicle. The signal gets stronger as you get closer.”
Police don’t even have to be looking for a stolen vehicle to find one: As soon as the tracker alerts an officer, he or she can punch a signature code sent by the device into a national database to get the make, model, color and other distinguishing features, Stahman said.
“At that point, we have a distinctive picture of what the vehicle looks like,” the chief said.
With Paterson near one side of town and Paramus the other, Glen Rock gets a steady stream of traffic along 208, Lincoln Avenue and Maple Avenue.
“It’s a great asset,” the chief said. “And the best part is that it costs the borough nothing.”
LoJack offers a 24-hour recovery guarantee. If you’re interested in how it works, or in getting the system to protect your valuables, LoJack’s website is a virtual encyclopedia on effective security. Go to: LoJack.com
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