LoJack System Helps the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the North Carolina Div. of Motor Vehicles Lic. & Theft Bureau Recover Stolen Mercedes-Benz E420
- August 24, 2018
- Law Enforcement
In August 2018, the owner of a 1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 contacted the Mooresville Police Department, Mooresville, NC to report that his vehicle had been stolen from his residence sometime during the night. The Mooresville Police Department, which is located within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Metro Area, verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Mercedes-Benz E420. The Mooresville Police also determined that there were 3 other vehicles stolen from the same area during the night, however, only the Mercedes was equipped with the LoJack System.
A short while after the Mercedes was entered into the national crime computer, an Officer with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and an Inspector with the North Carolina Div. of Motor Vehicles Lic. & Theft Bureau picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Mercedes 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 vehicle to the parking lot of shopping center. The Officers observed the Mercedes parked near a Jeep Liberty, Ford Focus, and a KIA sedan and that all four vehicles were occupied and had paper tags on them. As the Officers approached the vehicles, the drivers of the Ford and KIA drove off at a high rate of speed and left the parking lot and the driver of the Jeep got out and ran. The Officers blocked the Mercedes in and took the driver into custody and also located the driver of the Jeep Liberty. While on scene, it was determined that the Jeep Liberty was also stolen from Mooresville, NC Both suspects were transported to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD University Division Investigation Unit to be interviewed. After being interviewed, it was determined that the two suspects were part of a ring that had been going around the Charlotte Metro area stealing cars. It was further discovered that the Ford Focus and the KIA that left the scene were also stolen from Mooresville, NC.
Both suspects gave information that led to the identification of other members of the ring. They also informed the Investigators that they went from Charlotte to Mooresville in a Nissan, which is also believed to be stolen from the Charlotte area. The suspects were charged with Possession of Stolen Property. The Investigator with the Mooresville Police Department also charged the suspects with the theft of the vehicles from his jurisdiction. As of this writing the stolen Ford and KIA have not been located, however, the LoJack Equipped Mercedes was recovered and returned to the owner along with the Jeep Liberty.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Mercedes-Benz E420 in May 1997 at Mercedes Benz of Smithtown, Saint James, NY.
