LoJack System Helps Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Recover Stolen BMW X5
- December 27, 2017
- recovery stories
The owner of a 2003 BMW X5 contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to report her vehicle was stolen. The LASD Carson verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the BMW.
Only 7 minutes later the Los Angeles Police Department and an LASD airship picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen BMW 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 LASD Air 8 tracked the BMW to a shopping center in the city of Carson. Air 8 requested the assistance of LASD Carson patrol deputies. When the patrol deputies arrived they saw the BMW parked in a stall to the rear of a fast food restaurant. As the deputies drove into the parking lot a female exited the driver door of the BMW and walked away. The patrol deputies were able to detain the female. Air 8 advised the patrol deputies they saw the female toss car keys in the bed of a pick-up parked nearby. The deputies retrieved the keys and determined they belonged to the BMW.
The deputies interviewed the female at the scene. The female told the deputies she was walking through a trailer park and saw a window down in the BMW. The female looked into the BMW and saw keys in the vehicle. The female took the BMW and drove it to the fast food restaurant to meet a friend. The female saw the deputies arriving and attempted to walk away from the BMW. The female admitted to throwing the BMW keys into the bed of a pick-up. The female also stated, “I just thought it was a ‘G ride,’ I got arrested for the same thing last week.” The female was arrested and the undamaged BMW was recovered.
The LoJack® System was installed in the BMW X5 in January 2005 at Patrick Group BMW Saab in Schaumburg, Illinois.