Tracking of Stolen Chevrolet Silverado Leads to Bust of Major Chop Shop in Los Angeles
- February 21, 2012
- recovery stories
After the owners reported their vehicle stolen to law enforcement, the vehicle information was entered into the statewide stolen vehicle system (SVS/NCIC) computer. This routine police action automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle. Neither the owners nor law enforcement had to do anything else to activate the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery Network because of LoJack’s interface with law enforcement.
On December 16, 2011, LAPD 77th Street Division officers picked up the silent LoJack signal from a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado reported stolen days earlier to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
The officers picked up the signal on the LoJack Police Tracking Computers installed in their patrol vehicles; following the computer’s cues, they tracked the stolen pickup to a residential yard in the 10600 block of S. Vermont Avenue. At the location, the officers observed numerous vehicles and vehicle parts scattered around the yard. The officers requested that TRAP South Detectives to respond to the location. The detectives obtained consent to search the yard and were able to identify several stolen vehicle doors, body parts and interior parts at the location. The owners of the residence were arrested for 10801 VC (Operating a Chop Shop).
To date, detectives have been able to identify numerous parts belonging to eight stolen vehicles. The vehicles had been stolen from Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Several other vehicles were impounded that are believed to have been VIN-switched. TRAP South Detectives are still conducting the follow-up investigation.