Vehicle tracking specialist LoJack has been in business of locating stolen automobiles and motorcycles (and just about anything that moves) for the past 25 years, and as you can imagine, the company has a lot of interesting stories to share.

As is common this time of year, LoJack has released a list of its 10 most attention grabbing auto theft recoveries of 2011. The list, which was compiled by the company itself, includes a variety of stories ranging from multiple car thefts in a Southern California dealership to the apprehension of a child kidnapper.

You can check out the top 10 list in detail for yourself right after the break.

LoJack’s Best Recovery Stories from 2011 [From Press Release]:

#10 Thief Defeats GPS Service, but LoJack Gets Escalade Back – Atlanta PD used the LoJack System to find and recover a 2011 Cadillac Escalade, which was stolen from a downtown parking lot. Thieves defeated the pre-installed GPS system, but LoJack got it back!

#9 Carjacker Steals Vehicle from Dealership at Gunpoint; LoJack Makes Recovery — An aggressive thief took a Lexus out for a test drive with an Atlanta dealership salesperson and–at gunpoint–carjacked the vehicle. Thankfully, the vehicle was equipped with LoJack, which helped police quickly find and recover it.

#8 LoJack Helps Get Thief Who Wrote Bad Check for Craigslist Purchase – When the owner of a Honda Civic discovered that he received a bad check after selling his vehicle via Craigslist, he immediately contacted police who activated the LoJack System. The car was found the next day – a full 300 miles from Modesto, CA where it had been stolen – and the suspect was arrested.

#7 Carjacker Wounds Driver; LoJack Gets Bad Guy Off the Street – An Army Sergeant and his wife were stopped at a convenience store in Hoke County, NC, when a suspect tried to force the sergeant’s wife from the passenger seat. The sergeant attempted to stop the thief, was shot in the arm and the suspect drove off with his Dodge Journey. Within minutes of system activation, LoJack helped police track down, box in and stop the vehicle. The suspect was arrested.

#6 LoJack Foils Theft of 30 Keys, Titles and Vehicles from Dealership – In Southern California, thieves stole multiple vehicles, 30 sets of keys and titles to all other cars on a used car dealership lot…but LoJack helped get it all back. While the dealer didn’t realize that one of the stolen vehicles was equipped with LoJack, he was delighted to find out that the system helped recover everything.

#5 Honda with LoJack Leads to Stolen Vehicles in Shipping Containers – A thief stole a Honda Accord Crosstour from a dealership in Frisco, TX and police tracked its LoJack signal to a shipping container that was being loaded onto a vessel in the Port of Houston. U.S. Customs found not only this vehicle, but six in total, all hidden inside various containers and ready to be shipped abroad.

#4 Stolen Acura Integra Leads Police to 400th Chop Shop Bust in California – Only minutes after system activation, LoJack helped police track and eventually recover a stolen Acura Integra, which also led them to the discovery of multiple chop shops — marking LoJack’s 400th chop shop bust in California. As part of this bust, police arrested seven suspects, who were all part of a street racing theft ring.

#3 LoJack Helps Police Arrest Alleged Murder Suspect – A stolen Honda Civic equipped with LoJack led Connecticut police to the apprehension of an alleged murder suspect from Massachusetts, who was wanted in connection with the disappearance of a 36-year-old resident. The vehicle was recovered, but sadly the resident was later found murdered.

#2 Recovery of LoJack-Equipped Honda Busts International Theft Ring – Through tracking a Honda CVR equipped with LoJack to a shipping container being driven to a shipyard in Chicago, police pursued an investigation that led to the bust of an expansive international theft ring. This crime ring spanned from Tennessee to Illinois to New York – and included multiple stolen vehicles – valued at more than $200,000 — all ready to set sail to Africa.

And, the number one recovery story of the year…

#1 LoJack Helps Police Find Kidnapped Child and Apprehend Kidnapper – LoJack helped Illinois police track down a criminal who had kidnapped a four-year-old child and drove off with her in the family van. When police found the van empty, they embarked on a manhunt and found the suspect on a busy street with the little girl. Thanks to LoJack – which the mother did not even realize was hidden in her van – the child was rescued unharmed, the vehicle was recovered and the suspect was charged with kidnapping and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Photo credits: LoJack

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