LoJack Helps CHP Officers Recover Stolen Ford F150, Suspect Arrested After Chase & Crash
- February 10, 2013
- recovery stories
On January 28, 2013, the owner of a 2004 Ford F150 left his truck’s engine running to warm up, heard the truck drive away, and observed the suspect. He then contacted the Downey Police Department to report that the vehicle had been stolen.
Downey Police verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the truck.
Within 30 minutes of activation, California Highway Patrol officers from the Santa Fe Springs Area were on patrol, traveling westbound on the 105 freeway, when they picked up the silent LoJack signal coming from the stolen Ford F150. Following the directional and signal strength cues on their onboard LoJack Police Tracking Computers, the officers quickly located the vehicle, parked and unattended at the intersection of Lincoln and Hoover Avenues.
The officers set up surveillance and contacted CHP ISU investigators from Los Angeles, who responded and assumed the case and surveillance. A short while later, ISU investigators advised the “marked” CHP unit that a male matching the description of the suspect had just entered the vehicle and was driving away. ISU investigators followed the vehicle until the marked unit caught up with it, at which time they attempted a traffic stop. The suspect failed to yield and drove off, running numerous stop signs. The incident ended when the truck collided with a parked car and the suspect fled on foot. He was immediately captured without further incident. During the subsequent investigation, the suspect admitted that he had stolen the truck because the engine was running and he needed to drive around to visit friends. The suspect was later booked for numerous felony and misdemeanor charges.
The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Ford F150 at SOPP Ford on October 12, 2004. The vehicle was valued at approximately $17,700.