LoJack Helps Santa Ana Police Recover Yamaha Motorcycle Stolen in Costa Mesa, 1 Arrested
- October 15, 2012
- recovery stories
On September 23, 2012, the owner of a 2006 Yamaha YZF-R-1 motorcycle contacted the Costa Mesa Police Department to report that his vehicle had been stolen sometime during the night.
Costa Mesa Police verified the theft and entered the Yamaha’s information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the motorcycle.
Minutes later, officers from the Santa Ana Police Department were on patrol when they picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Yamaha motorcycle on the Police Tracking Computers installed in their patrol vehicles. Following the directional and signal strength cues on the LoJack computers, the officers tracked the vehicle to the 200 block of West Richland Avenue. As they neared the motorcycle, the officers observed a man standing beside it, and questioned who the motorcycle belonged to. The man responded, “it’s mine, and I took it.” Upon questioning, the officers learned that the suspect had found the bike, with keys in the ignition, making it easy prey for theft.
The suspect was arrested and later booked for Driving without Owner’s Consent, and Receiving Stolen Property. The undamaged Yamaha, valued at $9,000, was stored and later returned to its owner undamaged.
The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Yamaha motorcycle at Mission Motor Sports on October 31, 2006.