LoJack System Helps Chandler Police Department Recover Stolen Toyota RAV4 within Minutes of Activation
- March 18, 2019
- Law Enforcement
The
owners of a 2011 Toyota RAV4 contacted the Chandler Police Department to report
that their vehicle was stolen sometime over night from the garage of their
residence. The owners advised that they
forgot to shut the garage and that left a set of keys in the vehicle. The Chandler
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 Toyota.
Four minutes later, officers from the Phoenix Police Department picked up the
silent LoJack signal from the stolen Toyota 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 officers tracked the vehicle to the area of 26th
Street and South Mountain Avenue in Phoenix.
The
Phoenix Police Department officers determined that the stolen Toyota was in the
backyard area of a large residential and horse property. Chandler Police Department auto theft
detectives were contacted and responded to the scene. Both agencies worked together and made
contact at the residence. The property
owner gave consent to search the property for the stolen Toyota. The Toyota RAV4 was located in the rear of
the property next to old stables and corrals.
The rear building was recently rented by two male subjects that were not
present at the time. The Chandler Police
Department detectives recovered the stolen Toyota and processed the vehicle for
evidence. The vehicle was later returned
to the owners in good condition. The
property owner provided suspect information to the police. The Chandler Police Department auto theft detectives are conducting
follow up investigation and charges are pending.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Toyota RAV4 in February 2001, at Earnhardt
Toyota/Scion, Mesa, Arizona.