According to the study, law enforcement recovered 292 LoJack-equipped stolen motorcycles in 2006 valued at close to $2.8 million and discovered 76 professional theft rings, enabling police to reclaim an additional $2.1 million in other stolen bikes, bike parts, accessories and miscellaneous items. In total, law enforcement recovered more than $4.9 million in stolen assets through tracking LoJack-equipped stolen motorcycles.

This report underscores the fact that organized crime rings view bike theft as a highly lucrative business opportunity and that motorcycle theft is growing along with the popularity of bike riding – which today is at an all time high. Figures released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau earlier this year indicated that more than 70,000 motorcycles were stolen in 2005. In fact, bike theft has risen 135 percent over the past five years. And not surprisingly, the LoJack report indicates that theft is especially high in states including Florida, California and Texas, where the riding season is year-round.

Newer Sport Bikes are the Most Popular Theft Targets
While all motorcycles are vulnerable to theft, the report indicates that the most popular theft targets are the newer sport bikes. Four of the top five stolen/recovered bikes are sport bikes and 87 percent were either 2005 or 2006 models.

Below are the top five stolen motorcycle makes:
1. Suzuki
2. Honda
3. Yamaha
4. Kawasaki
5. Harley-Davidson

LoJack Offers “BikeSmarts” Guide to Theft Protection
In an effort to help inform bike owners of the facts about motorcycle theft and provide theft prevention tips, LoJack offers “BikeSmarts,” a theft protection guide available on LoJack’s Knowledge Center for Vehicle Security at www.lojack.com (click on the “Get the Facts of Vehicle Theft” button).

How LoJack For Motorcycles Works
LoJack For Motorcycles features the core strengths that over the past 20 years have made LoJack’s flagship Stolen Vehicle Recovery System such a successful solution to the serious problem of vehicle theft. The product is directly integrated into law enforcement agencies in LoJack markets, is based on LoJack’s tried-and-true radio frequency technology, and is hidden on the bike so that thieves would not suspect the device exists and, therefore, would not attempt to find and disengage it. Taken together, these strengths enable LoJack to deliver highly effective, proven recovery systems.

About the Study
The 2006 LoJack Motorcycle Theft Study is based on state theft statistics and equipment recoveries documented by LoJack in 26 states from January to December 2006. LoJack has been tracking theft/recovery data for the past year and will continue to issue these reports annually to provide the industry with valuable statistics and trend information.

About LoJack Corporation
LoJack Corporation, the company that invented the stolen vehicle recovery market, leverages its superior technology, direct connection with law enforcement and proven processes to be the undisputed global leader in tracking and recovering valuable mobile assets. The company’s Stolen Vehicle Recovery System delivers a better than 90 percent success rate in tracking and recovering stolen cars and trucks and has helped recover more than $4 billion in global assets. The system is uniquely integrated into law enforcement agencies in the United States that use LoJack’s in-vehicle tracking equipment to recover stolen assets, including cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, construction equipment and motorcycles. Today LoJack operates in 26 states and the District of Columbia, and in more than 28 countries throughout Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia.

According to theft prevention expert Patrick Clancy, Vice President of Law Enforcement for LoJack and former police sergeant, “Today’s clever thieves are particularly vigilant for thefts of opportunity especially in the winter months. One common sense tip for consumers is never leave a vehicle running unattended to warm it up or defrost the windows – even if you are only leaving your vehicle for a minute. Thieves know just how and when to strike and that is when your vehicle is most vulnerable.”

Want to Keep Your Vehicle Safe? By combining common sense approaches, theft prevention devices and tracking/recovery systems, you can protect your vehicle from theft.

The first important step: Use Common Sense Measures. Never leave keys in the car with the engine running. Don’t hide a spare key in the vehicle. Close all windows and lock all doors when leaving your vehicle. Park in a well-lit area and, when at home, keep your car in the garage. Don’t leave valuables visible in your car.

The second step: Use Theft Prevention Products. A thief is less inclined to steal your car if it has visible and audible warning devices like a wheel lock or alarm system. Immobilizers-which include smart keys, kill switches and fuel cut-off devices-offer another means of protection.

The third step: Use a Tracking and Recovery System. Since thieves can typically disarm most theft prevention devices, recovery systems provide the peace of mind that you’ll get your car back-often quickly-in the event it is stolen. The most effective systems are directly integrated into law enforcement, use radio frequency technology-which has proven to be optimal for recovering stolen car and motorcycles-and are covert so they cannot be disengaged.