LoJack® System Helps Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Recover Stolen Dodge Challenger
- November 18, 2015
- recovery stories
A new car dealership installed a LoJack® System in this Dodge Challenger as part of a preinstall program. The program enhances sales and also provides an added measure of asset security while vehicles are on the dealership lot. The dealership was the victim of three fraudulent transactions by the same suspect on the same day. They included a 2015 Dodge Charger, a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the listed Dodge Challenger. The suspect used stolen identity and fraudulent checks to complete the transactions. The dealership contacted the Downey Police Department to report the thefts. The Downey PD verified the thefts and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Dodge Challenger.
Only 11 minutes later deputies from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Dodge Challenger 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 deputies tracked the Challenger to an unincorporated area of Torrance. The deputies stopped the Challenger and detained a lone female driver. During the course of their investigation the deputies found two note books inside the Challenger which contained the personal information to more than ten individuals. The information included names, DOB’s, social security numbers and credit card information. One of the names in the notebook included the identity victim’s information used for the three fraudulent purchases from the dealership. The deputies also located drugs and drug paraphernalia on the suspect’s person and inside the Challenger. The suspect was arrested for the theft of the Challenger and possession of illicit drugs.
All three vehicles fraudulently obtained from the dealership were recovered by law enforcement utilizing the LoJack® System. The 2015 Dodge Charger was recovered by the Los Angeles Police Department Newton with an arrest made. The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee was recovered by the South Gate Police Department.
It should be noted the suspects also fraudulently purchased a 2013 Jaguar XKR from a high-end used dealership in Pasadena. Unfortunately this dealership does not participate in the LoJack installation program and has yet to recover their vehicle.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Dodge Challenger in September 2015 at a new car dealership in Downey, California.