Nine Suspects Arrested in Southern CA Theft Ring, 4 Vehicles Recovered, Thanks to LoJack

On August 16, 2012, the owners of a 2004 BMW 325 and a 2003 Toyota Tundra contacted the Pismo Beach Police Department to report that their vehicles were stolen from the garage of their residence. Pismo Beach Police verified the thefts and entered the BMW’s information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle.

Minutes later, officers from the Santa Maria Police Department picked up the silent LoJack homing signal from the stolen LoJack-equipped BMW on the Police Tracking Computer installed in their patrol vehicles. Following the directional and audible cues from the LoJack computer, the officers tracked and located the stolen BMW at a motel in the area of the 2000 block of Priesker Lane. Santa Maria officers set up surveillance in the area. The officers observed a female suspect driving the stolen 2003 Toyota and arrested the suspect. Santa Maria Police, along with Pismo Beach Police and CHP SLOCATTS, conducted an investigation at the location for additional suspects and vehicles.  Investigators recovered two additional vehicles (a 2008 Ford Escape and a 1999 Mercedes). Officers took a total of nine suspects into custody for auto theft, burglary, warrants, and drug-related charges. These suspects were connected to numerous burglaries in the San Luis Obispo County area. This investigation is still ongoing, with one additional suspect still outstanding. This case has been classified as a Theft Ring (#440 for LoJack Southern California Operations). Total value of this recovery is estimated at $38,875.