Stockton Area Police Using LoJack Recover Stolen Pontiac GTO, Arrest 3 Known Gang Members
- September 18, 2012
- recovery stories
On August 16, 2012, the owner of a 2006 Pontiac GTO returned home to discover that his home had been burglarized and his vehicle stolen, along with numerous other items. The victim reported the theft to the Stockton Police Department. After verifying the theft, the Stockton Police had the Pontiac’s information entered into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle.
Minutes later, officers with the CHP Stockton Area and the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Department both began to track the silent LoJack signal emitting from the now stolen Pontiac. Following the directional and audible cues on their onboard LoJack computers, the offiers located the vehicle, parked in a driveway in a residential area near Spring and Felps Streets in South Stockton. The officers contacted the DELTA RATT auto theft task force who responded and set up surveillance on the vehicle in the hope of catching the thieves.
After a short time, three suspects entered the vehicle and drove away. The officers initiated a felony stop on the vehicle, and the suspects fled on foot. After three trips around the block, the task force members had captured all three suspects. The suspects were arrested for auto theft, resisting arrest and receiving stolen property.
The vehicle, estimated at $16,000, was towed to be processed for evidence and was released to the owner later.
The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Pontiac GTO in November 2005 at Phillips Pontiac in Laguna Hills, California.