LoJack® System Helps New Mexico Auto Theft Task Force Recover a Stolen Cadillac Escalade Two in Custody
- November 30, 2018
- Law Enforcement
The owner of a 2003 Cadillac Escalade contacted the Albuquerque Police Department to report their vehicle was stolen. This is the second time this year the Cadillac owner has fallen victim to auto theft. The Albuquerque PD verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Cadillac Escalade.
Shortly after the activation, flight officers in the Albuquerque PD Air-5 picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Cadillac with the LoJack Police Tracking Computers (PTC) that are installed in patrol car and aircraft. Following the silent and directional cues from the PTC, the Cadillac was tracked to a residential neighborhood in the area of Central and Cypress.
The flight officers notified members of the New Mexico Auto Theft Task Force of the LoJack track. Detectives and Agents arrived into the area in their unmarked units to set up surveillance. As surveillance was being established the Cadillac began to leave the neighborhood. Two of the occupants decided to exit the Cadillac on foot and attempted to run away. However, these two subjects were apprehended in short order after a short foot chase.
The driver of the Cadillac thought he could outsmart the long arm of the law by jumping into a “staged” stolen Ford F150 which was parked a few blocks away. The driver jumped into the Ford and attempted to elude capture. The flight officers of Air-5 maintained visual surveillance from above and relayed this information to the ground units. When the driver came to a stop on the other side of town he was taken into custody. This subject was identified as a habitual offender and has added another auto theft charge to his resume.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Cadillac Escalade in July 2003 at Crown Chevrolet in Dublin, California.