LoJack® System Helps North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles License & Theft Bureau Recover Stolen Lexus IS350
- October 22, 2015
- recovery stories
The owner of a 2009 Lexus IS350 contacted the Winston Salem Police Department to report that their vehicle was stolen while parked in a commercial parking lot at Silas Creek Parkway and Peters Creek Parkway. The Lexus owner had parked the vehicle, left the keys in the car, and the doors unlocked while inside a business for a few minutes. When the owner returned to the parking lot, the Lexus was discovered missing.
The Winston Salem PD verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Lexus. A police “be on the lookout” (BOLO) was given to area law enforcement but no contact was made with the Lexus during the late night.
Soon after, inspectors with the North Carolina DMV License & Theft Bureau, Winston Salem District office, picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Lexus 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 inspectors tracked the Lexus to an apartment complex off NE 25th Ave. and Bowen Blvd. in Winston Salem. The Lexus was found backed into a parking space in the rear of the apartment complex off Toddler Place Dr. Surveillance was set up of the Lexus and the surrounding area in hopes of viewing a suspect return to the Lexus; however no one returned to the vehicle. The owner was contacted regarding taking custody of the Lexus. The owner’s only vehicle key was also stolen at the time the Lexus was stolen so the owner was unable to gain entry to the Lexus. A tow truck was called to the recovery site to transport the Lexus to a safe location and allow a new key to be made.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Lexus IS350 in May 2010 at Toyota of Gastonia in North Carolina.