LoJack Aids Fresno Air and Ground Units in Recovery of Stolen Toyota FJ Cruiser, Suspect Detained

On June 3, 2012 the owner of a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser contacted the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department to report that their vehicle was stolen from their residence in the city of Fresno. Fresno officers verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the Toyota FJ Cruiser.

Just three hours later, the flight crew of Eagle One, a Fresno County Sheriff’s Department helicopter, picked up the silent LoJack homing signals from the stolen Toyota on the Police Tracking Computer installed in their aircraft. Following the directional and audible cues from the LoJack computer, the flight crew tracked the vehicle to the vicinity of Herndon and West Avenues in northwest Fresno. LoJack equipped ground units from the Fresno Police Department converged upon the area and located the vehicle in the driveway of a nearby residence.

Officers questioned an adult male at the residence, who was later detained for investigation of vehicle theft based on his statements. The vehicle was recovered intact and undamaged; it was stored pending release to the owner.