LASD Air & Ground Units Use LoJack to Recover Stolen Toyota Highlander, One Suspect Arrested
- December 28, 2012
- recovery stories
On December 3, 2012, the owners of a 2003 Toyota Highlander contacted the Bell Police Department to report that their vehicle had been stolen. Apparently, the owners had left keys to the Highlander in a fast food restaurant and a thief took advantage of the opportunity to steal their vehicle.
Bell Police verified the theft and entered the Toyota’s information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle.
Minutes later, flight deputies in Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department’s “Air 21” picked up the silent signal from the Toyota on the LoJack Police Tracking Computers installed in the aircraft. Ground deputies in the East Los Angeles area observed the helicopter orbiting and overheard radio correspondence regarding the stolen Toyota. They drove into the area of 3rd Street and Indiana, where they observed the occupied vehicle. They initiated a felony traffic stop on the Highlander, taking the suspect into custody without further incident.
When questioned, the suspect admitted to finding the keys in the restaurant and taking the vehicle. The suspect was later booked for Driving without Owner’s Consent. The undamaged vehicle was stored for safekeeping and later released to the victims.
The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Toyota Highlander on March 29, 2003 at Bob Baker Toyota.