LoJack® System Helps the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Recover Stolen 2014 Toyota Corolla and Capture a Convicted Felon with a Stolen Handgun

  • March 3, 2017
  • Law Enforcement
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In February 2017, the owner of a 2014 Toyota Corolla, reported an auto theft, to the Atlanta Police Department, Atlanta, Ga.  The Atlanta Police Department verified the theft, and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Corolla.   

Once the vehicle was entered as stolen, a Deputy with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia, SC, picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Corolla with the LoJack Police Tracking Computers (PTC’s) that are installed in patrol vehicles and aircraft.  Following the directional and audible cues from the PTC, the Corolla was tracked to the parking lot of a night club.  The Deputy placed the vehicle under surveillance and called for other Deputies to assist.  The Toyota left the parking lot of the night club and the Deputy initiated a traffic stop.  The driver of the Toyota initially slowed the Toyota down as if he was going to pull over; however, he made the decision not to pull over and choose to lead the Deputies in a high speed pursuit.   The pursuit lasted for several miles, but ended when stop sticks were deployed.  The driver of the Toyota then chooses to run from the vehicle, but was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit.  During the foot pursuit, the suspect threw a book bag which was recovered by the Deputies.  A search of the book bag produced a .40 mm hand gun that had been reported stolen out of Anderson, SC. A check of the suspect’s criminal history revealed he had a prior conviction of Armed Robbery and could not legally possess a firearm.  The suspect was charged Failure to Stop for Blue Lights, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Unlawful Carry of a Firearm, Possession of a Stolen Pistol, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.  The vehicle was recovered and towed from the scene.

The LoJack® System was installed in the Toyota in July 2014 at Palm Beach Toyota, West Palm Beach, FL.