BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Since LoJack detectors were installed in law enforcement squad cars throughout the county five years ago, it has proven to be a very useful tool.

In 2009 it helped recover 97 stolen cars county wide, and this past weekend it led to the arrest of four people for grand theft auto.

Squad cars throughout every law enforcement agency in Kern County are equipped with a LoJack detector that constantly scans for stolen cars with LoJack devices.

Once it picks up a stolen LoJack vehicle signal, the mechanism tells law enforcement where to go using directions and a proximity alarm.

"The closer you get to the stolen vehicle the stronger the alarm is. It's a handy tool because if you can't see that stolen car, the LoJack can sometimes find it if its LoJack enabled," said Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy Gregory.

Not only does it lead authorities to stolen cars, but often times other criminal activity, like an incident where the recovery of a stolen $220,000 Mercedes Benz also led to a marijuana drug bust.

Law enforcement is only able to recover stolen cars with LoJack if the stolen car has a LoJack device in and it is activated. Keep in mind not all cars are equipped with LoJack.