LoJack System Helps Red Bluff Police Department Recover Stolen 2015 Ford F550 Flatbed Truck and Arrest Suspect
- February 27, 2019
- Law Enforcement
A
commercial equipment vehicle rental company in Olivehurst contacted the
California Highway Patrol to report one of their trucks, a 2015 Ford F550
flatbed truck and a 2016 Marksman 2 axle flatbed trailer, as stolen. After
reviewing the rental agreement information provided by the customer, it was
determined the vehicles had been rented by means of fraud/identity theft. The
truck, a 2015 Ford F550 flatbed truck was equipped with the LoJack Stolen
Vehicle Recovery System. The California
Highway Patrol verified the theft and entered
the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which
automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed
in the 2015 Ford F550 truck.
A short time later, Red Bluff Police officers were alerted to the stolen Ford
truck by means of the silent LoJack signal from the stolen vehicle 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 stolen truck was tracked and was found being
driven by a male suspect. A traffic stop
was made on the stolen truck on Adobe Road near I-5, and the male suspect
attempted to flee on foot. The Red Bluff
PD officers were able to quickly apprehend the suspect. The suspect was
arrested for possession of the stolen truck and outstanding felony
warrants. The suspect(s) had removed all
of the rental company signage from the truck and had even painted some parts of
the vehicle in an attempt to conceal its identity. Information developed during
the follow up investigation by CHP vehicle theft investigators, led to a search
warrant being served at a remote residential property located in Tehama County,
where the missing Marksman trailer was found and recovered.
The stolen Ford F5550 truck was recovered by the Red Bluff Police Department and the vehicle was towed/stored for safe keeping to be returned to the equipment rental company. The recovered Marksman trailer with a value of $5000, was also returned to the rental company.
The LoJack® System was installed in the 2015 Ford F550 for the commercial customer in November 2014.