LoJack System Helps Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department Recover Stolen Mini Cooper
- August 22, 2017
- recovery stories
The owner of a 2007 Mini Cooper contacted the Scottsdale Police Department to report that their vehicle was stolen from the parking lot of a night club. The front tires had been slashed by an ex-boyfriend and left in the parking lot. When she later returned, the Mini Cooper was gone.
The Scottsdale 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 Mini Cooper.
A short while later, officers from the Phoenix Police Department picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Mini Cooper 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 Mini Cooper to a neighborhood near 35th Avenue and Southern Avenue in Phoenix, approximately thirty five miles from the theft location.
The Phoenix PD officers determined that the stolen Mini Cooper was in the rear yard of a residence located on a county island. The Maricopa County SD deputies and auto theft detectives responded to the area and took disposition of the case. The deputies and officers made contact at the residence and obtained consent to search the rear yard where the Mini Cooper was parked. The Mini Copper was recovered in good condition with the two flat front tires. Deputies also recovered a stolen car dolly and an engine/transmission from a stolen 2010 Chevy Tahoe. The suspect was identified as the ex-boyfriend of the victim and was not present at this location. The Maricopa County SD auto theft detectives are conducting follow up investigations and charges are pending. The Mini Cooper was impounded for safekeeping.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Mini Cooper in November 2007 at BMW of Escondido in California.