Home Burlgarized, Toyota Tacoma Stolen in Baldwin Park; LASD Recovers Vehicle, Arrests Suspect
- August 15, 2012
- recovery stories
On July 7, 2012, the owner of a 2004 Toyota Tacoma contacted Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Norwalk deputies to report a residential burglary and the theft of his vehicle. Norwalk deputies verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle.
Within minutes, a deputy from the LASD Norwalk Station was driving westbound on Mapledale Street from Bloomfield Avenue when he began to receive the Tacoma’s silent LoJack signal on the Police Tracking Computer installed in his patrol car. Following the directional and audible signal on the LoJack computers, the deputy located the stolen vehicle traveling southbound. The truck made an abrupt stop as the deputy drove past the vehicle, and the driver walked away from the truck. The deputy made contact with the suspect, and during a consent search, located the vehicle’s keys on the suspect. During questioning, the suspect gave several conflicting stories; the deputy arrested him at the scene.
A subsequent investigation among the victim’s neighbors identified this suspect as the sole occupant and driver of the stolen Tacoma. An assisting deputy drove the victim to the recovery scene and released the truck. The suspect was later booked Driving a Motor Vehicle without Consent and Receiving Stolen Property.