LoJack System Helps Arizona Highway Patrol Recover Stolen Toyota Matrix
- August 28, 2017
- recovery stories
The owner of a 2003 Toyota Matrix contacted the Phoenix Police Department to report that their vehicle had been stolen by an unknown male subject that she had recently met at a convenience store/gas station. The male subject approached the elderly victim and convinced her that he could fix and paint the Toyota. The victim drove home and then provided the Toyota along with the keys to the suspect. The suspect could not be contacted and the Toyota was not returned after several days.
The Phoenix 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 Toyota.
Twelve minutes later, troopers from the Arizona Highway Patrol and officers from the Phoenix PD picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Toyota 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 Highway Patrol troopers and the Phoenix PD officers tracked the Toyota to the area of 19th Avenue and Cactus Road.
The Highway Patrol troopers located the stolen Toyota unoccupied in the neighborhood. The Toyota was parked on a side street and no suspects were observed in the area. The Toyota was recovered and processed for evidence. The license plate had been removed and was missing. The Toyota was recovered in good condition and impounded for safe keeping.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Toyota Matrix in November 2002 at Camelback Toyota in Phoenix, Arizona.