LoJack® System Helps Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Recover Stolen Chevrolet Express Van
- March 7, 2016
- recovery stories
The owners of a 2007 Chevrolet Express Van contacted the Los Angeles Police Department 77th Division to report their vehicle was stolen. The LAPD 77th Division verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Chevrolet.
Only 25 minutes later the LAPD helicopter Air 3 picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Chevrolet 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 LAPD Air 3 tracked the Chevrolet to a residence in the jurisdiction of the LASD South Los Angeles. The LAPD Air 3 contacted the LASD South Los Angeles and requested patrol deputies respond to their location. The stolen Chevrolet was under a tarp with a subject near the stolen vehicle. While flying overhead the LAPD Air 3 saw the male subject walk away. The LAPD Air 3 directed patrol deputies to the subject’s location as he walked away. The deputies located the subject and detained him. Other deputies responded to the stolen Chevrolet’s location and verified it was the LoJack equipped stolen Chevrolet.
Deputies interviewed the detained subject. He told the deputies he purchased the Chevrolet from a gang member for $1,000 and believed the Chevrolet might be stolen. The subject said he wanted the engine from the stolen Chevrolet Express Van because it had a 6.0 liter engine and he wanted to put it in his Chevrolet Tahoe. When the deputies arrived at the location it appeared the suspect was in the beginning stages of removing parts of the engine.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Chevrolet Express in July 2007 at O’Donnell Chevrolet in San Gabriel, California.