Pontiac Grand AM Stolen from Dealership Recovered by CHP/Air Unit Assist
- January 24, 2012
- recovery stories
On January 15, 2012, a car dealership contacted the Arroyo Grande Police Department to report that a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am had been stolen from their business.
Arroyo Grande Police responded to the scene, prepared a stolen vehicle report and had the stolen Pontiac’s information entered into the state and federal crime computers. This routine police action automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the Pontiac and initiated the tracking of the vehicle.
Two hours later, ”Air 71” flight officers picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Pontiac, on their LoJack Police Tracking Computer in their aircraft and took off from the airport in search of the stolen vehicle. Following the computer cues, the flight officers tracked the Pontiac northbound on the 101 Freeway. CHP patrol units, along with investigators from SLOCATTS, assisted with the tracking. The police located the vehicle, parked at a fast food restaurant off the 101 freeway, and observed three suspects enter the vehicle and drive in the direction of the I-5 Freeway. The officers conducted a felony traffic stop, and the three suspects were taken into custody for Driving Without Owner’s Consent without incident. The rear passenger admitted to test-driving the vehicle the previous day and switching the key. The suspects were headed to Sacramento to VIN-switch the vehicle. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by Detectives SLOCATTS.
The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Pontiac Grand AM at the owner’s request in September 2006.