LoJack® System Helps Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Recover Stolen Honda Civic
- March 3, 2016
- recovery stories
The owners of a Honda Civic contacted the Anaheim Police Department to report their vehicle was stolen. The Anaheim 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 Honda.
Only 14 minutes later the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Lakewood’s Skynight helicopter picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Honda 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 LASD Skynight tracked the Honda to a storage facility in Norwalk. The LASD Skynight pilot saw three subjects standing between the stolen Honda and a storage unit. Nearby was a van. The LASD Skynight requested the LASD Norwalk deputies to respond. Patrol deputies arrived and detained the three subjects. When contacted one of the subjects stated he had a broken leg. Deputies could see crutches in the stolen Honda. When questioned the subject with the broken leg denied being in possession of the stolen Honda. He told the deputies that a friend had driven the Honda but fled when deputies arrived. When the other two detained subjects were questioned they both stated the subject with the broken leg drove the Honda to the location. The subject with the broken leg arranged to meet them there to buy a vest. When the subject with the broken leg was questioned further he admitted to driving the Honda to the location but didn’t know it was stolen. He said he borrowed it from a friend. When the officers searched the Honda they found a shaved key in the ignition. The subject with the broken leg was arrested for the theft of the Honda. He was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Honda Civic in September 2000 at Honda of Pasadena in California.