Cadillac Escalade Stolen in Charlotte, Tracked by Police to Wal-Mart Parking Lot

On July 31, 2012, the owner of a 2004 Cadillac Escalade contacted the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to report that their vehicle was stolen from the front yard of the residence off Hedgelawn Drive in Charlotte during the previous night. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police verified the theft and entered the Cadillac’s information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle.

A short time later, officers from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department picked up the silent LoJack homing signals from the stolen Cadillac on the Police Tracking Computers installed in their patrol vehicles. Following the directional and audible cues from the LoJack computers, the officers tracked the vehicle to the parking lot of a Wal-Mart on Tryon Street.   

A command decision was made to place the vehicle under surveillance to see if a suspect(s) would return to the Cadillac.  Officers also attempted to gain Wal-Mart surveillance video; however, no video was available.  After some time had passed, the surveillance was discontinued and the vehicle was processed for latent evidence.  There were no obvious signs of forced entry and the ignition was still intact. As the owner was unable to travel to the recovery site, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department had the vehicle towed and stored for safekeeping until the owner could take possession. The investigation remains ongoing.