LoJack System Helps Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department Recover Stolen Honda Civic
- November 15, 2017
- recovery stories
The owners of a 1999 Honda Civic contacted the Santa Barbara Police Department to report that their vehicle was stolen by unknown suspects. Officers verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Honda Civic.
A short while later deputies from the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department Carpinteria station picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Honda with the LoJack Police Tracking Computers (PTC) that are installed in patrol vehicles and aircraft. Following the directional and audible cues from the PTC, a senior deputy noted that the signal was coming from behind his vehicle. As the vehicle passed his patrol vehicle, confirmation was made on the stolen Honda Civic.
At this point, the suspect fled from the deputies and initiated a pursuit for several miles on the freeway. The pursuit terminated when the suspect exited the freeway and drove into an avocado grove and abandoned the Honda. Deputies cordoned off the avocado grove and called for their canine officers. Canine “Magnum” tracked and located the suspect hiding in an avocado tree. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. The undamaged Honda was stored and later returned to its owner. The District Attorney has filed four charges against the suspect to include the theft of the Honda.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Honda Civic in September 1999 at Honda World in Westminster, California.