LoJack® System in Stolen Portable Air Compressor Leads to Recovery by King County Sheriff’s Department and Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force
- October 2, 2018
- Law Enforcement
A 2017 Atco portable air compressor was rented to a commercial customer in Auburn, WA. Sometime during the night, the portable air compressor was stolen from a secure job site. The customer reported the theft to Auburn Police Department who verified the theft and entered the stolen vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers. This automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the portable air compressor.
Within minutes of the stolen vehicle activation, a Deputy with the King County Sheriff’s Department received a LoJack hit on his Police Tracking Computer (PTC) that are installed in patrol vehicles and aircraft. Renton Police Department and the Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force also responded to assist with the track. Utilizing the audible and visual signals of the LoJack® PTC, deputies were able to navigate to a residential area in Renton, WA. The portable air compressor was located sitting underneath a carport. The homeowner was contacted and stated the air compressor had been brought to this location by a relative. The relative was contacted and stated he had just purchased this expensive equipment for $400.00. The air compressor was turned back over to the theft victim and this investigation is ongoing. The total time elapsed from stolen vehicle entry to recovery and deactivation was only one hour and twenty-six minutes.
The LoJack® System was installed in 2018 by Atlas Copco- Hertz.