LASD Uses LoJack to Track Thief, Arrest Him, for Theft of Acura RSX
- July 17, 2012
- recovery stories
On June 26, 2012, the owner of a 2003 Acura RSX contacted Los Angeles Sheriffs’ Department to report their vehicle stolen. LASD East LA 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 Acura.
Within hours, Los Angeles Sheriff Detectives were patrolling the area when they overheard an airship from the LAPD contact their channel, informing them that they had picked up a silent LoJack signal on the stolen Acura in the East LA area. The detectives approached the area and picked up the signal in their vehicle, as did a second East LA patrol unit. When that unit arrived in the 400 block of Mednick Avenue, the officers observed the two detectives, waving their arms to indicate that they had just located the stolen Acura in the driveway of a residence.
The deputies observed a male covering the car with a blue tarp, and when they called to him, he walked away quickly into the residence. The deputies ran to the backyard and caught the suspect, detaining him without further incident. The deputies learned that this suspect had called a relative who owned the property and asked to store a vehicle there. He was observed by a witness driving up in the vehicle and a key was found in his possession. The suspect gave a story to the detectives; however, the story could not be verified. At that time, the officers arrested the suspect, transported him to jail, and booked him for grand theft auto. The car, valued at $12,000, was undamaged and stored for safekeeping.
The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Acura RSX in July of 2010 at Bob Smith Toyota.