LoJack System Helps the Ohio State Patrol Recover Stolen 2019 BMW 740i xDrive
- October 12, 2018
- Law Enforcement
In September of 2018, the owners of a 2019 BMW 740i xDrive contacted the Fayetteville Police Department, Fayetteville, NC to report that their vehicle had been stolen after it was determined that the vehicle had been obtained through fraudulent means. The suspect took delivery of the BMW in August 2018. A month later, it was determined that the suspect had obtained the vehicle through identity theft.
The Fayetteville Police Department 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. The Fayetteville Police Department attempted to locate the vehicle though the factory installed tracking system but discovered it had been disabled.
After the vehicle was entered into the National Computer Crime Data Base, Troopers with the Ohio State Patrol in Cleveland, OH 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 Troopers tracked the vehicle to an auto repair garage. The Troopers placed the BMW under surveillance but after a few hours, determined that the auto repair garage was not involved. The Troopers made contact with the shop owner and learned that the BMW had been dropped off for minor repairs. Upon examining the BMW, it was discovered that the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate had been altered. The shop owner provided the name and contact information of the customer that brought the BMW in for repair. The BMW was recovered and taken in as evidence. This case is an ongoing investigation.
The LoJack® System was installed in the BMW 740i xDrive in June 2018 at Commercial Sales.