LoJack® System Helps Los Angeles Police Department Recover Stolen Ford Econoline
- August 28, 2015
- recovery stories
The owners of a 2005 Ford Econoline contacted the Downey Police Department to report that their vehicle was stolen. Officers verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Ford.
Three minutes later a Los Angeles County Airship picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Ford with the LoJack Police Tracking Computers (PTC) that are installed in patrol vehicles and aircraft. Following the directional and audible cues from the PTC, the Airship tracked the Ford to 112th St west of Antwerp Ave, and located the vehicle parked on the street. Auto theft detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department Southeast Division responded and set up surveillance. Within one half hour, the detectives observed a male adult enter the driver side. Seconds later they observed a second male enter the passenger side. The stolen Ford drove off as the detectives followed in an unmarked vehicle waiting for uniform back up. As the stolen Ford neared Compton St, the van slowed and stopped. The detectives deployed on the suspects who were later taken into custody without further incident. After a field investigation, both suspects were arrested. The driver suspect was later booked for driving a stolen vehicle without owner’s permission and the passenger was booked for receiving stolen property. The undamaged Ford was stored for safe keeping pending release to the owner.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Ford Econoline in September 2004 by Claremont Ford in California.