LoJack® System Helps Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force Recover Stolen Dodge Durango
- March 30, 2017
- recovery stories
The owner of a 2006 Dodge Durango contacted the Tucson Police Department to report that his vehicle was stolen sometime overnight from a parking lot. A key may have been left in the Dodge by mistake. The owner was in the process of moving and had all his personal belongings in the Durango.
The Tucson 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 Dodge.
Seven minutes later, officers from the Tucson PD and detectives from the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Dodge 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 officers tracked the Dodge to the area of Grant Road and Dodge Boulevard.
The Tucson PD helicopter, also equipped with a PTC, was in the area and located the stolen Dodge in a parking lot of a nearby apartment complex. The auto theft detectives set up surveillance on the stolen Dodge Durango. A few minutes later the suspect was observed getting out of the stolen Dodge and walking towards front of the apartment complex. The suspect was observed getting into the passenger side of a Kia that was waiting for him. The task force detectives blocked the Kia and took the suspect into custody without incident. The suspect had an ignition key to the Dodge in his possession along with personal checks belonging to the victim. The suspect also was in possession of heroin. During interviews, the suspect admitted to finding the spare key on the floor of the vehicle and stealing the Dodge. He was arrested and booked on several felony charges to include vehicle theft. The Dodge was recovered in good condition along with all the stolen personal property that was inside the vehicle when it was stolen. The Dodge and property were returned to the owner at the scene.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Dodge Durango in November 2006 at Autoland in Springfield, New Jersey.