LoJack System Helps Cleveland Police Department Recover Stolen Audi Q7
- August 22, 2017
- recovery stories
The owner of a 2008 Audi Q7 contacted the Cleveland Police Department to report that his vehicle was stolen. The victim and his friend just pulled into the apartment complex parking lot where he lives. The victim and his friend exited the Audi when two unknown males armed with handguns approached and said “keep your heads down or we will kill you.” The suspects then told the victim to turn over the keys to the Audi. The victim complied and the suspects removed the victim’s phone, jewelry and other property. Both suspects entered the Audi and sped off.
The Cleveland 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 Audi.
A short while later officers from the Cleveland PD and the University Circle Police Department picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Audi 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 Audi to the rear of an abandoned residence in Cleveland.
The suspects had removed the custom wheels from the Audi and were in the process of removing other property but were unable to finish. Parked next to the Audi was a 2011 Toyota Sienna that had been stolen for over a week from Cleveland. The Toyota had also been used to commit a residential burglary in Brunswick, Ohio, in which several firearms were stolen. Both the Audi and Toyota were impounded for processing. Suspect information has been developed. This matter is being investigated jointly by the Cleveland PD and Brunswick PD.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Audi Q7 in February 2008 at Mercedes Benz of Tysons Corner in Vienna, Virginia.