Stolen Toyota Matrix Used in Armed Robery of Indian Casino in Florida, 2 Arrested
- June 24, 2012
- recovery stories
According to sources, on Friday evening, April 6, 2012, the Seminole Indian Tribe Police Department took a report of a “strong armed” robbery at a casino in Hollywood. A witness described seeing a 2009 Toyota Matrix used by the suspects in the robbery; Seminole Police requested that North Miami Police officers locate the owner of the vehicle to determine its whereabouts. A North Miami Police Department officer made contact with the owner, who stated that someone had recently stolen his vehicle from where he had parked it. After verifying the theft, the officer had the Toyota’s information entered into the state and federal crime computer systems, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle.
A short while later, a Fort Lauderdale Police Department officer received the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Toyota on his patrol car’s LoJack Police Tracking Computer. Following the directional and audible cues from the LoJack Tracker, the officer quickly located the sedan and began to follow it until back-up units arrived. Once the additional units were in place, the officers performed a felony stop on the vehicle, and detained the three occupants. A Seminole Indian Tribe Police Department detective responded to the scene. After the detectives conducted interviews with the suspects, one suspect was charged with Grand Theft Auto and driving with No Valid Driver’s License, a second suspect was charged with the strong armed robbery at the casino, and the third suspect was released. The vehicle was recovered, towed to the police impound yard for safekeeping, and removed from federal-state crime computer systems. The arrestees were ultimately transported to the Broward County Jail.
The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Toyota Matrix in December 2008 and has been protecting it ever since.