LoJack® System Helps Los Angeles Police Department Recover Stolen Volkswagen Tiguan
- February 3, 2016
- recovery stories
The owners of a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan contacted the Los Angeles Police Department to report that their vehicle was stolen from an underground secured parking area. Apparently spare keys to the Volkswagen were left inside the glove compartment. 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 Volkswagen.
A short while later officers from the LAPD Southwest Division picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Volkswagen with the LoJack Police Tracking Computers (PTC) that are installed in patrol vehicles and aircraft. The officers requested an LAPD Airship to respond and assist. A few minutes later flight officers in Air-3 radioed that they had tracked and spotted the stolen Volkswagen behind an apartment building parked in a stall in the 5700 block of Clemson. Officers established surveillance on the location and within an hour observed the Volkswagen exit the complex. They requested back up, an airship and Supervisor then began following the Volkswagen. The suspects became aware of the police car then sped up initiating a pursuit. The pursuit lasted a few minutes and terminated at Orange Drive and Westhaven when the suspects collided with a parked vehicle. A male and female were taken into custody without further incident. During the field investigation, the officers were told that both suspects were homeless and had entered into the secured parking structure to take a vehicle. They located a BMW and the Volkswagen parked in a space. Entered the BMW and found keys, moving it out of the way, then entered the Volkswagen, located the keys and left in it. When asked why they did not take the BMW, the suspects said they felt that BMW could easily be tracked. Both suspects apparently had been videoed at the victim’s complex by security cameras and due to that fact and statements by both suspects they were booked for Grand Theft Auto as well as Burglary from a motor vehicle and Felony Evading.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Volkswagen Tiguan in May 2014 at Galpin Volkswagen.