Ex-Boyfriend Steals Dodge Avenger While Owner is Hospitalized — Twice in One Day!
- June 12, 2012
- recovery stories
In early May 2012, the owner of a 2008 Dodge Avenger was hospitalized for an extended period of time. While she was in the hospital, unbeknownst to her, an ex-boyfriend of hers stole her vehicle. When the victim’s friends and relatives became aware of the possible theft, they located the vehicle in Tacoma, but the ex-boyfriend refused to return it. The family contacted the Auburn Police Department, who completed a theft report and had the Dodge’s information entered in the state and federal crime computer databases. This routine police action automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the Avenger, prompting it to begin emitting a silent homing signal.
A short time later, Washington State Patrol troopers received the Dodge’s homing signal on the LoJack Police Tracking Computers installed in their patrol vehicle. Following the computer’s directional and signal strength cues, the troopers located the vehicle near McKinley Park in Tacoma. Tacoma Police arrived on site and took charge of the recovery. They contacted the owner to take possession of the vehicle; she requested that it be left at the location. When she arrived the next day, the vehicle would not start, so she called a tow truck.
When the tow truck arrived, the vehicle was again missing. The owner reported her car stolen again. Tacoma Police again responded, took a second theft report and entered it into the police computer system – again activating the LoJack system. One of the troopers who recovered the vehicle the first time tracked it again to E. 29th & E. K Streets in Tacoma. The vehicle was recovered with no damage and released to the owner.
The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Dodge Avenger in August of 2010 when it was purchased as a used car.