LoJack System Helps Los Angeles Police Department Recover Stolen Ford F250, Suspect Arrested
- January 17, 2019
- Law Enforcement
The owners of a 2004 Ford F250 contacted the Los Angeles Police Department to report that their vehicle was stolen. Officers verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Ford F250.
A short while later officers from Hollenbeck Division patrolling the area overheard LAPD Air-3 Flight Officers had picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Ford F250 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 flight officers tracked the vehicle to Mission St and Soto St where the ground unit caught up to the stolen Ford F250. The ground units followed the vehicle requesting back up and eventually conducted a traffic stop at Castalia and Navarro taking the suspect into custody without further incident. The suspect was arrested and taken to Hollenbeck division for processing. Autotheft Detective Calderon interviewed the suspect and was told the suspect was homeless and happened to see the vehicle. The suspect entered the truck, punched the ignition and drove off. He indicated he was going to sleep inside the camper shell. The vehicle was processed and stored at a local OPG for safe keeping.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Ford F250 at Redlands Ford, in June 2004.