Honda Element Stolen from Phoenix Driveway with Engine Running, Recovered Minutes Later
- June 24, 2012
- recovery stories
On April 15, 2012, the owner of a 2007 Honda Element SUV went to check on a friend’s home, and left the Honda’s engine running in the driveway. While inside the home, he heard the Element drive away. He quickly contacted the Phoenix Police Department to report the crime. After verifying the theft, Phoenix Police had the Element’s information entered into the state and federal crime computers, which activated the LoJack transponder concealed inside the vehicle.
Within minutes, a Phoenix Police helicopter began to pick up the Honda’s silent LoJack signal on the LoJack Police Tracking Computer installed in the aircraft. Following the directional and audible signal on the LoJack Tracker, the flight crew quickly observed the stolen Element, parked on the street a few blocks away from the theft location. Phoenix Police ground officers responded and confirmed that it was, in fact, the stolen vehicle. The officers recovered the abandoned vehicle and identified a suspect at the recovery site. An arrest is pending.
The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Honda Element at the owner’s request in December 2006.