LoJack® System Helps San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office Recover Stolen Lincoln Welder
- September 12, 2014
The owners of a 2013 Lincoln Welder, mounted on a trailer, contacted the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department to report that their rental welder was stolen from a construction site. The welder had been rented out to a construction company.
Riverside County Sheriffs verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Lincoln Welder.
A short while later, deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s department picked up the silent LoJack® homing signals from the stolen Lincoln Welder 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 deputies tracked the vehicle to a business in the 10000 block of 6th Street in Rancho Cucamonga. Deputies made contact with a male subject at the business. While speaking with the subject, the deputies saw the Lincoln Welder inside the business. The deputies could also smell the strong odor of marijuana plants. The deputies confirmed the welder was the stolen one in question. Deputies contacted SANCATT (San Bernardino County Auto Theft Taskforce) and had them respond to assist. A search warrant was authorized and served for the location. During the search, SANCATT located a stolen 2002 KTM 520 motorcycle, a 2008 Special Construction dune buggy, a 2006 Carson enclosed trailer, 141 growing marijuana plants, and 40,000 rounds of 5.56 and 7.62 ammunition. The suspect contacted at the location was found to be a convicted felon, and was subsequently arrested for the stolen items, the marijuana plants and a felon in possession of ammunition. The investigation is continuing.
The construction company that rented the Lincoln Welder was highly impressed with the fast recovery of the welder by the LoJack® System. They expressed their desire to equip all their company’s construction equipment with the LoJack® System and that information has been forwarded.
The LoJack® System was installed in the Lincoln welder in October 2013.