Toyota Tundra Stolen and Sold by Victim’s Acquaintance Using Forged Papers — Recovered Using LoJack
- March 19, 2012
- recovery stories
In late February 2012, a 2007 Toyota Tundra was impounded while its owner was out of town. An acquaintance of the victim, who knew that the owner was away, went to the towing company and presented forged paper work indicating that he was the owner. The towing company then released the Toyota to the forger. On the afternoon of February 22, 2012, the victim returned, discovered what had happened and met with the Yuba City Police Department to complete a theft report.
Yuba City Police had the Toyota’s information entered into the California and national crime databases – a routine police action that automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle. Neither the owners nor law enforcement agents had to do anything else to activate the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery Transponder because of LoJack’s interface with law enforcement is both seamless and instantaneous.
Just 90 minutes later, officers with the Yuba City Police Department began to receive the silent signal emitting from the stolen Toyota Tundra. Following the directional and signal strength cues from their onboard LoJack Police Tracking Computers, the officers tracked and located the Toyota at a body shop in Yuba City. The owner of the shop stated that a suspect had sold him the truck using the forged ownership papers.
The vehicle was released to the rightful owner and officers are working to obtain a warrant for the suspect.