LoJack® System Helps Los Angeles County TRAP Recover a Stolen Toyota Venza
- March 31, 2015
The owner of a 2009 Toyota Venza contacted the Los Angeles Police Department to report that his vehicle was stolen. The Toyota was parked at his apartment complex and a spare was kept inside of the passenger compartment.
The police verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Toyota.
The Los Angeles County TRAP detectives picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Toyota with the portable LoJack Police Tracking Computers (PTC) that are assigned to their detail. Following the directional and audible cues from the PTC, the Toyota was tracked to the area of Mary Ellen and Erwin Park. The Toyota had been cold plated. The detectives deployed on the Toyota and began surveillance. Five suspects were observed entering the Toyota. A short time later, two of the suspects left and drove away in another vehicle. The remaining suspects drove from the location. The LAPD Van Nuys patrol officers were requested to respond and conduct a traffic stop. The suspects were stopped in the area of Victory Blvd and Whitsett. The female driver was taken into custody for auto theft related charges. The two passengers were taken into custody for possession of drugs for sale.
The Toyota was impounded for safe keeping.
The LoJack® System was installed in the 2009 Toyota Venza in September 2012 at Carson Toyota in Carson, California.