The LoJack® System Helps Michigan State Police Recover Stolen Pontiac and Arrest Fugitive
- September 5, 2013
On August 15, 2013, the owner of a 1998 Pontiac Sunfire discovered that the vehicle had been stolen overnight from their Clinton Township residence. They contacted the Clinton Township Police Department to report the crime. Clinton Township Police verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the Pontiac.
Shortly after, several law enforcement agencies in the Metro Detroit area picked up the silent LoJack homing signals from the stolen Pontiac on their Police Tracking Computers installed in their cruisers. Following the directional and audible cues from the LoJack computers, a Trooper with the Michigan State Police tracked the vehicle to a residential area of Detroit and observed that the vehicle was occupied. The Trooper notified Detroit PD Commercial Auto Theft Section (CATS) for possible surveillance and while waiting for them to respond the vehicle became mobile. Upon seeing the trooper they sped off. After a short pursuit, the stolen Pontiac was stopped. In a futile attempt to further avoid arrest, the suspects locked the doors and tried to hold them closed. Troopers were able gain access to the stolen Pontiac and both suspects were taken into custody.
Both suspects were charged with several felonies and in addition, the driver was wanted for several other felony crimes.
The owner of the Pontiac was unaware that it was equipped with LoJack. The original owner of the vehicle had it installed with a LoJack Vehicle Recovery System in March 1999 at Hodgdon-Noyes Buick/Pontiac/GMC.