Toyota Highlander Stolen in Ohio Recovered in Florida, 2 Arrested for Theft, Drugs, Warrants
- July 16, 2013
On May 25, 2012, the owner of a 2003 Toyota Highlander discovered her vehicle missing from her residence; upon further investigation, she also discovered almost $1,000, and the keys to the Toyota, also missing. The victim had recently hired a young man to complete some maintenance work on her home and he was nowhere to be found. When she attempted to contact the man, the man’s mother informed her that her son had her vehicle and may be leaving Ohio with his girlfriend.
The owner quickly contacted the Niles Police Department to report the crime. After verifying the theft, Niles officers had the Highlander’s information entered into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle.
Sometime later, several agencies in the Tampa, Florida area received the Highlander’s silent LoJack signal on the LoJack Police Tracking Computer installed in their police vehicles. Following the directional and audible cues on the LoJack Trackers, troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol located the moving Highlander. With assistance from the Tampa Police Department, the troopers conducted a felony stop and arrested the two suspects inside the Highlander.
Investigation revealed heroin on one of the suspects. The male suspect was the same person that the victim had hired, and the female he was traveling with was originally from Tampa and had several outstanding warrants in Florida. Officers impounded the stolen Toyota until it could be released ot the owner’s insurance company.
The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Toyota Highlander when it was purchased as a used vehicle in March 2006.