LoJack System Helps Red Bluff Police Department Recover Stolen 2015 Ford F550 Flatbed Truck and Arrest Suspect – Follow-up by California Highway Patrol Investigators Leads to Additional Recoveries One in Custody
- March 29, 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 Northern Division vehicle theft investigators, led to a search warrant being served at a remote residential property located in Tehama County, where a missing 2016 Marksman trailer was found along with a stolen 2019 Carry-On utility trailer, 2017 John Deere 310L Loader, 2018 Melroe Bobcat T590 Skid Steer, and 2 Stihl Chainsaws and other tools, all from various equipment rental companies, all of which had been stolen by means of fraud and identity theft.
The stolen Ford F5550 truck was recovered by the Red Bluff Police Department and the vehicle was towed and stored for safe keeping to be returned to the equipment rental company. The additional recovered vehicles, equipment, and tools had an estimated combined value of $172,600.
The LoJack® System was installed in the 2015 Ford F550 for the commercial customer in November 2014