LoJack® System Helps Gardena Police Department Recover Stolen Chevrolet Camaro
- August 11, 2016
- recovery stories
The owners of a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro contacted the Los Angeles Police Department to report their vehicle was stolen. The LAPD Pacific Division verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Chevrolet Camaro.
A short while later officers from the Gardena Police Department picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet to an apartment complex.
The officer tracking the Chevrolet was initially tracking a signal for a stolen LoJack equipped Honda Civic. During the course of tracking the Honda he picked up the LoJack signal for the Chevrolet. Other officers from Gardena PD were also tracking the Honda. The officer decided to break off from tracking the Honda and tracked the Chevrolet. The officer located the Chevrolet traveling on Budlong Avenue and followed it for several streets before it pulled into an apartment complex. The officer followed the Chevrolet into the apartment complex where the male driver exited the Chevrolet. The officer ordered the driver walk toward his patrol vehicle but the driver walked to the front of the Chevrolet. A female passenger exited the passenger door. Both subjects were detained at gunpoint until assisting officers could arrive. Both subjects were taken into custody and the Chevrolet Camaro was recovered. The driver told the officers that the Chevrolet belonged to a female but he was unable to provide any information as to the identity of the female. The female passenger told the officers that the Chevrolet belonged to the driver’s father. Officers determined the driver was on probation for drug related charges.
The Honda Civic which was initially tracked by the handling officer was later recovered by other Gardena PD officers.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Chevrolet Camaro in October 2009 at Allen Gwynn Chevrolet in Glendale, California.