Philadelphia Police Use LoJack to Recover Stolen Toyota Matrix, Arrest Two Suspects

On November 1, 2012, the owner of a Toyota Matrix contacted the Philadelphia Police Department to report that their vehicle was stolen from the area of 50^th and Market Streets in West Philadelphia. 

Philadelphia Police verified the theft and had the Toyota’s information entered into the state and federal crime computer systems, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle.

A few minutes later, officers from the West Philadelphia Police Division picked up the silent LoJack homing signals from the stolen Toyota on the Police Tracking Computers installed in their patrol vehicles. Following the directional and audible cues from the LoJack computers, the officers quickly determined that the vehicle was in motion. The South Philadelphia Police Division quickly picked up the signal and located the vehicle on Point Breeze Avenue. Their officers pulled in behind the Toyota, and as soon as they determined it was safe to do so, signaled to the vehicle to pull to the curb.

The driver complied with the officers’ request, and both the operator and passenger were placed under arrest. The suspects were transported to Philadelphia Police South Detective Division, where they were formally charged with vehicle theft. The vehicle owner was notified and took possession of the vehicle.          

The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Toyota Matrix on April 22, 2008 at Route 1 Toyota in Avenel, New Jersey.