LoJack® System Helps New Mexico Auto Theft Task Force Recover a Stolen Hyundai Veloster
- June 17, 2019
- Law Enforcement
The owner of a 2013 Hyundai Veloster contacted the Albuquerque Police Department and the LoJack Call Center to report the vehicle stolen. The owner advised she parked her vehicle in the parking lot of a shopping center in the area of Coors and Montano. When the owner returned to her Hyundai, she discovered the vehicle was missing. The Albuquerque PD verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Hyundai Veloster.
Approximately an hour after the activation, an auto theft detective with the Albuquerque Police Department picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Hyundai with the LoJack Police Tracking Computers (PTC) that are installed in their patrol and undercover vehicles. Following the directional and audible cues from the PTC, the detective tracked the LoJack signal to the area of south Coors. The detective located the stolen Hyundai and observed it to be unoccupied.
The detective notified the other members of the New Mexico Auto Theft Task Force (Albuquerque PD Auto Theft unit and New Mexico State Police Auto Theft Suppression unit) to set up surveillance. The ATTF arrived in the area and set up covert surveillance on the Hyundai in hopes of making an arrest. After surveillance was conducted, the Hyundai was recovered and processed for evidence. Damage was observed to the driver door lock and ignition bypassing the need to start the engine. The owner was notified of the recovery and will be reunited with their vehicle.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Hyundai Veloster in November 2016 at Mark’s Casa Chevrolet in Albuquerque, New Mexico.