LoJack System Helps Colorado Springs Police Department Recover Stolen Mercedes Benz ML3
- January 21, 2019
- Law Enforcement
The owners of a Mercedes Benz ML3 had taken their vehicle to a repair shop for maintenance. The car was stolen from the repair shop but the repair shop didn’t discover the loss until several days later. When the loss was reported to the owners they contacted the Colorado Springs PD to file an auto theft report.
A Colorado Springs officer arrived on scene, verified the theft and had the vehicle information entered into the state and federal crime computers. Through LoJack’s exclusive direct interface with the National Crime Information Center, the nationwide system used by all law enforcement agencies in the United State for stolen vehicle data, this routine action automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Mercedes.
A short time after the NCIC entry and activation officers with the Colorado Springs PD and BATTLE South Auto Theft Task Force were picking up the silent LoJack broadcasts from the stolen Mercedes with the LoJack Police Tracking Computers (PTCs) that are installed in patrol vehicles and aircraft.
Following the directional and audible cues from their PTCs, these officers tracked the vehicle to the parking lot of a movie theatre. Investigators set up on the unoccupied vehicle for a period of time in anticipation that the thieves were inside the theatre. When no one approached the vehicle it was recovered for the safe return to the owner’s before it could be stripped, damaged or used in other crimes.
It was later determined that in the period between when the car was taken and days later when it was reported stolen Colorado Springs officers had attempted to stop this vehicle for a violation and that the vehicle sped off recklessly and eluded the police.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Mercedes Benz ML3 in September 2000 at the request of the prior owner of the vehicle in California. The current owners were unaware of their vehicle having been equipped with LoJack but were pleasantly surprised and appreciative of that fact.