Stolen Toyota 4Runner Recovered at Gas Station, LAPD Arresst Suspect for Theft, Stolen Credit Cards

On June 14, 2012, the owners of a 2000 Toyota 4 Runner contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to report that their vehicle was stolen. According to the owner, the vehicle had been parked at the owner’s workplace, with the keys locked inside the vehicle. LASD officers verified the theft and entered the vehicle’s information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the Toyota 4 Runner.

A short while later, LAPD “Air 3” flight officers picked up the silent LoJack homing signal from the stolen Toyota on the Police Tracking Computers installed in their air unit. Following the directional and audible cues from the LoJack computer, the flight officers tracked the vehicle to the area of Roscoe Boulevard and Haskell Avenue. Officers from the LAPD’s West Valley and Van Nuys divisions responded to the area and quickly located the vehicle parked at a gas station. The officers observed the suspect using stolen credit cards to purchase gas, and quickly took him into custody without incident for auto theft and stolen credit card related charges. The vehicle, valued at over $7,000, was recovered undamaged and impounded for safe keeping.